Essay Sample on The Practical Information on Epidemiology

Was the described methodology proper for the type of study?

The article uses a proper research methodology that provides novel findings of the subject matter that will guide medical practitioners and policymakers in the health sector across Europe (Wijnhoven et al., 2014). The critical analysis aims to take an introspective look as far as the methods applied, subjects used for the research study, findings, statistical analysis of the findings, and references used thereof are concerned concerning the subject matter outlined in the topic. The methodology described entailed using samples of six to nine-year-old children cutting across the nation within the enlisted nations for the study. Given the type of study that required this kind of measurement to be obtained from the kids, the methodology was proper and right (Wijnhoven et al., 2014).

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This is an in-depth article full of practical information on Epidemiology. Firstly, the term is a broad field of medicine involved with the occurrence, spread, and the management of diseases and associated health factors in a given population (Wijnhoven et al., 2014). Epidemiology is a crucial component of public health. Through epidemiology, the development of well-informed policies and medical practice centered on credible evidence is made possible in the health sector of a region or given nation. These epidemiology utilities are by pointing out of risk factors for selected diseases and areas that are at high risk, after which preventive healthcare is set up in place. Therefore, epidemiology, as a medical field, holds a huge relevance that is immeasurable.

Was the study well-described

The study was exhaustively well described. Initial sample selection across Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Wijnhoven et al., 2014). It was detailed by the World Health Organization European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative to measure the body mass index and level of overweight among 6–9-year-old children from school year 2007/2008 to school year 2009/2010 (Wijnhoven et al., 2014). Additionally, a look into the shifts in the body mass index and overweight present in children cross nine European countries currently in school for the years 2007/2008 to 2009/2010 was undertaken in this type of study (Wijnhoven et al., 2014).

Was the appropriate sampling method used?

The stratification method was applied in the initial sample selection. The participants in the study passed the eligibility criteria of the chosen age groups. However, the article did not specify the exclusion criteria and the refusal rate (Wijnhoven et al., 2014). The sampling method of stratification was appropriate for the study, but differences like stratification were utilized in the selected countries.

Was the method of the sample size calculation described?

The method of sample size calculation was described, which was cluster sampling. Cluster sampling is a method that was utilized by the eight countries that entail the foremost sampling unit as the primary school or class (Wijnhoven et al., 2014). There is no evidence of the incorporation of the double-blinded method in this research

Has the double-blinded method been applied

The double-blinded method has been applied in the article to play a vital part in the study to prevent research outcomes from being influenced by the observers' biases.

Was the statistical methodology of data analysis well described? Was it proper for the type of study?

The statistical methodology in the data analysis section was well detailed and explained. It entailed obtaining the mean and standard deviation. The statistical methodology was proper for this study as it dealt with quantitative data.

Were there some adverse effects that have been reported

There was no mention of the adverse effects in the given research study, be it positive ones or negative ones that accrued. The alternative factors that influence the main outcome discussed in the research article include the health of the children under study, genetics, and the time that the research was conducted (Wijnhoven et al., 2014).

Were there alternative factors that affect the main outcome discussed

Alternative factors such as critical analysis broadly affected the main outcome of the research. Critical analysis was aimed at taking an introspective look as far as the methods applied, subjects used for the research study, findings, statistical analysis of the findings, and references used thereof are concerned about the subject matter outlined in the topic (Wijnhoven et al., 2014).

Were their research assumptions, possible biases and limitations reported

In the research, the research assumptions, possible biases, and limitations were not documented. From the results obtained, there was no evidence of any form of bias thereof.

Were the results of the study bias in any way

The study results were not biased because a proper study of Epidemiology enhances the development of well-informed policies, and medical practice that is centered on credible evidence is made possible in the health sector of a region or given nation. These epidemiology utilities are by pointing out of risk factors for selected diseases and areas that are at high risk, after which preventive healthcare is set up in place. Therefore, as a medical field, epidemiology holds a huge relevance that is immeasurable and lacks bias.

Are the results of the study applicable in clinical practice?

The results obtained from the study are very much applicable in clinical practice as they detail the urgency that the subject matter needs in Europe owing to its prevalence (Wijnhoven et al., 2014). Therefore, interventions have to be in place to address the given situation at hand.

Were the references relevant for the time of study

The references used were relevant to the type of study as they were in line with the research's subject matter. They were also within the time of research as they were in five years from the research time, thus very much relevant.

References

Wijnhoven, T. M., van Raaij, J. M., Spinelli, A., Starc, G., Hassapidou, M., Spiroski, I., & Pérez-Farinós, N. (2014). WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: body mass index and level of overweight among 6–9-year-old children from school year 2007/2008 to school year 2009/2010. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 806.