Introduction
In scientific research, especially in the field of medicine, the maximum accuracy of the results is essential. It allows scientists to make the results consistent with reality and use them more effectively in the future (Klugman and Lamb, 2019). There are numerous criteria for assessing the validity of a study, allowing people to understand the level of its quality and benefits to society. Celis-Morales et al. (2017) argue that “commuting by walking was associated with a lower risk of CVD incidence and mortality. However, commuting by cycling was associated with the lowest risk of these as well as lower risks of all cause mortality and cancer, with dose dependent relations for all outcomes. Mixed mode commuting was associated with some benefits but only if the active component comprised cycling” (para. 13). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the article by Celis-Morales et al. that is dedicated to the relationship between physical activity and the risk of various diseases in the elderly.
Answers to the Questions
Were the exposures measured similarly to assign people to both exposed and unexposed groups?
The primary measured exposure is the amount and mode of commuting of the elderly. The main way to work with informants in this study is an electronic questionnaire containing questions about these details. Indeed, the measured exposure was measured in the same way for all study participants. Each of them filled out this form, and, depending on the results, they were divided into different groups. Some of them commuted by feet, some used bicycles, and others noted a lack of physical activity. These groups were observed, and the results of the study were developed after several years. The authors turned to official documents reporting the death of some of these people and its cause. Thus, regardless of the group, the state of people was examined using the same methods. This allowed researchers to most accurately compare their well-being and draw relevant conclusions. Therefore, the chosen approach of researchers allowed them to make reliable and interesting conclusions.
Was the exposure measured in a valid and reliable way?
When working with information, the authors relied on valid sources. First, this is work with the informants themselves, who independently described their lifestyle during the survey. Questions were developed based on other scientific studies, and therefore are also reliable. Thus, information on how active is the lifestyle of the studied groups of people is reliable. Second, the authors of the research paid much attention to its part devoted to the subsequent state of these people’s health. Studying it, they also used reliable sources, in particular, official information about their deaths. These documents contain data on the causes of death and are accurate, which allowed scientists to establish the relationship between commuting and the development of various diseases. Therefore, the study is indeed quite careful and based on reliable information.
Were confounding factors identified?
Working with informants, the authors identified several confounding factors. For example, at the very beginning of work with informants, they took into account various sociodemographic features. These include, for instance, ethnicity, age, and gender. The authors also paid attention to diet, activity levels at work, smoking, body mass index, and other significant aspects. Undoubtedly, they all affect the level and life expectancy of people, so the researchers adjusted the study based on them.
Were strategies to deal with confounding factors stated?
To get the most accurate results, the authors needed to adapt to confounding factors. First, as already mentioned above, the authors did not include people predisposed to particular diseases in the study results. This made the data more specific and made it possible to measure the relationship between diseases and physical activity more accurately. In addition, the design of the study was adapted to other factors. Undoubtedly, each of the informants has its own unique features and ways of living. For this reason, it is essential to consider each of these details and make the results harmonious, relying on them. The authors of the study managed to do this because they paid attention to these aspects at the very beginning of the study. Thus, they used the sample matching to avoid these confounding factors, thus making the result more reliable.
Conclusion
The article by Celis-Morales et al. is a complete analysis of the impact of physical activity on older people’s lives. Thanks to a large number of participants, the authors managed to get a significant amount of results. This allowed them to draw the most accurate and complete conclusions. The authors also took into account many different informants’ features, ranging from age to the level of daily physical activity. In addition to these factors, the authors also took into account the comorbidity of the studied groups of people. This is especially important since any disease can be a decisive factor in the lives of older people. Thus, for example, some informants were already predisposed to the presence of cancer or CVD. All this data allowed researchers to clearly separate control groups and accurately assess the state of human health. In addition, to analyse the disorders that caused the death of people, the authors used official verified documents. Thus, this article is a consistent and important study.
Reference List
Celis-Morales, C. A. et al. (2017) ‘Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality: prospective cohort study’, BMJ, 2017, 357:j1456, doi: 10.1136/bmj.j1456.
Klugman, C. M. and Lamb, E. G. (2019) Research methods in health humanities. Oxford: Oxford University Press.