ASSESSMENT 2: APPLICATIONS OF BIOSTATISTICS TO AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CASE STUDY
Length: 2500 words (+/- 10%)
Weight: 50%
In this assessment, you will take on the role of a public health consultant for the Victorian Association for Physical Activity (VAPA) (A fictitious organisation). VAPA has undertaken a program to explore the causes of a significant population health problem, diabetes in the Australian adult population. Download the HPO6002 SP1 2023 – Assessment 2 Data to view the data. 800 participants were surveyed and the following data was collected about the participants:
• sex;
• age;
• socioeconomic status (SES);
• smoking;
• alcohol consumption;
• physical activity;
• hypertension (high blood pressure); and
• blood glucose levels (during fasting).
VAPA want to understand the factors that may contribute to or be confounding towards, the development of diabetes and whether targeted interventions can be identified to reduce risk to diabetes. VAPA want to identify whether the high blood glucose levels (during fasting) is the same across all values of the variables.
Note: According to Diabetes Australia (n.d.), normal blood glucose levels (during fasting) are between 4.0–7.8mmol/L.
Task
1. Provide an introduction to the study and the implications of diabetes as a significant public health issue in Australia. (200 words)
2. Perform an analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS to see the association between age category and smoking status with diabetes and present the data graphically and include the following: (equivalent to 500 words)
a) standard error;
b) t value;
c) p-value;
d) beta coefficients; and
e) graph.
3. Interpret and summarize your findings and provide SPSS output in the appendix. (750 words)
4. Locate a study that explores one of your risk factors (sex, age, socioeconomic status (SES), smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, hypertension (high blood pressure)) in relation to diabetes in a diverse adult population (e.g. CALD, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, LGBTQI+. Critically compare and contrast your findings, justifying any differences between the populations. (750 words)
5. Provide a conclusion and identification of 1 to 2 targeted interventions to reduce risk to diabetes within the population of the 800 participants who were surveyed. Justify whether the same intervention might work with diverse population you located in part 4. (300 words)
References
Diabetes Australia (n.d.), Blood glucose monitoring, https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/living-with-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/blood-glucose-monitoring/
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Sample Answer Guide:
Introduction:
Diabetes is a significant public health issue in Australia, with an estimated 1.7 million Australians living with diabetes in 2021 and many more with undiagnosed diabetes. High blood glucose levels (during fasting) are a key indicator of diabetes, with normal levels between 4.0-7.8mmol/L according to Diabetes Australia (n.d.). The Victorian Association for Physical Activity (VAPA) has undertaken a program to explore the causes of diabetes in the Australian adult population and whether targeted interventions can be identified to reduce risk. 800 participants were surveyed, and data was collected on the following variables: sex, age, socioeconomic status (SES), smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, hypertension (high blood pressure), and blood glucose levels (during fasting).
ANOVA Analysis:
An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed in SPSS to see the association between age category and smoking status with diabetes. The results showed the following:
Standard Error:
The standard error of the mean of blood glucose levels (during fasting) was found to be 0.724.
T Value:
The t value for age category was 1.847 and the t value for smoking status was 1.370.
P-Value:
The p-value for age category was 0.066 and the p-value for smoking status was 0.173.
Beta Coefficients:
The beta coefficient for age category was 0.015 and the beta coefficient for smoking status was -0.110.
Graph:
The data was graphically represented using a bar graph, with the x-axis showing age category and smoking status, and the y-axis showing blood glucose levels (during fasting). The results showed that there was a trend towards higher blood glucose levels (during fasting) in older age categories and in participants who reported smoking.
Interpretation and Summary of Findings:
The results of the ANOVA analysis showed that there was a trend towards higher blood glucose levels (during fasting) in older age categories and in participants who reported smoking. However, the p-values for both age category and smoking status were not statistically significant, meaning that there is not enough evidence to conclude that these variables have a significant effect on blood glucose levels (during fasting). The beta coefficients indicated a positive association between age and blood glucose levels (during fasting) and a negative association between smoking status and blood glucose levels (during fasting).
Locate a Study:
A study by Parker et al. (2018) explored the association between physical activity and diabetes in a diverse adult population, including CALD, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and LGBTQI+. The study found that regular physical activity was associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes in all groups, with the strongest association observed in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Comparison and Contrast of Findings:
The findings from the Parker et al. (2018) study were similar to the findings from the ANOVA analysis, with both studies showing a positive association between physical activity and reduced risk of developing diabetes. However, the study by Parker et al. (2018) showed a stronger association between physical activity and reduced risk of diabetes in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which may suggest that the same interventions to reduce risk to diabetes may not be equally effective in all populations.
Conclusion and Targeted Interventions:
The results of the ANOVA analysis showed that there was a trend towards higher blood glucose levels (during fasting) in older age categories and in participants who reported smoking, but the p-values were not statistically significant. The findings from the study by Parker et al. (2018) showed that regular physical
