Asthma is a chronic lung disease caused by inflammation of the lower airways and episodes of airflow obstruction. Asthma episodes or attacks can vary from mild to life-threatening. In 2007, about 7% p

Asthma is a chronic lung disease caused by inflammation of the lower airways and episodes of airflow obstruction. Asthma episodes or attacks can vary from mild to life-threatening. In 2007, about 7% percent of the U.S. population was diagnosed with asthma and there have been a growing number of new cases since that time. There are several known risk factors identified as triggers of asthma symptoms and episodes, including inhalation of allergens or pollutants, infection, cold air, vigorous exercise, and emotional upsets. There is also growing evidence relating body-mass index to asthma in both children and adults. Design a study to investigate whether there is such an association.

Choose a study design and justify the reasons you chose the design over others.

Select a statistical measure you would use to describe the association (if there is one) between body mass index and asthma.

In addition, address:

1. Subject selection

2. Issues relating to the measurement of both the exposure and the outcome

3. Potential biases that the study might be prone to, and how they might be handled

4. Possible confounding factors and effect modifiers and how to overcome their effect.

Present the information in a 750-1000-word report, using section headings where each requirement is described and justified under each of the following headings: Study Design, Statistical Measures, Subject Selection, and Measurement Issues.

Refer below to the “Key Elements of a Research Proposal.”

You are required to use a minimum of three scholarly resources.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

Key Elements of a Research Proposal

If you need a review of study design components, view the resources below. 

Review the Key Elements page of the Research Methods Knowledge Base website at Social Research Methods – Knowledge Base – Key Elements

Social Research       Methods – Knowledge Base – Key Elements

Key Elements of a Research Proposal

Background / purpose / rationale of the study

Literature review

Hypothesis/key questions 

Research objectives

Research methods

• Study      design
• Statistical      bias
• Procedures/timeline
  • Specific       steps to be taken to complete the study
  • Instruments/data       collection methods
  • Outcomes
• Proposed      data analysis plan
  • Statistical       analyses planned
  • Power       analysis if appropriate
• Data      safety monitoring if appropriate

Study participants

• Description      of participates
• Recruitment      of participates
• Confidentiality/human      subject’s protection/legal-ethical issues (if appropriate)
• Sampling      / rationale
  • Inclusion/exclusion       criteria
  • Number       of subjects

Statistical Analysis (only if applicable)

Anticipated Results and Potential Pitfalls

Implications for Practice

Adapted from “Key Elements of a Social Science Research Proposal: Statement of Research Plan” by the Office of Research at Northwestern University at www.research.northwestern.edu

Just like on the midterm, the way this final works is that I have provided you 5 questions, one per week’s topic. You need to answer the questions to the best of your ability. I will randomly be selecting 2 questions to grade, and then you will have the choice of which 3rd question you want me to review. After everyone has submitted their final exams (on Wednesday morning 8AM of Finals Week), you will be allowed to go into Moodle and select the question number you want me to grade.

Responses will be graded based on 3 things .

1) How thoroughly and thoughtfully you explained the answer.

2) How feasible and creative your response was in terms of solutions, or options for solving problems. 3) How cleanly written it is. Please no typos and no grammatical mistakes.

You must provide links for all of your sources if you reference anything besides your textbook. You all know what reliable sources are, so make sure anything you are referencing is from a reliable, credible source.

*Hint: Each response should probably be at least ½ a page if you are answering thoroughly. Less than ½ a page means you probably didn’t provide enough detail.

Week 6 question

Do people choose their own health, particularly their own nutrition and physical activity? Whether you think the answer is yes, no, or somewhere in between, make a case for your answer. Build your case referencing at least 4 different factors that influence health from Chapters 13,14, and 16. Be specific and think about psychosocial factors and policies, systems, and environmental factors that are relevant to your response.

Week 7 question

Where does the U.S. rank in terms for infant and maternal mortality? Thinking about these rankings, explain the quote “maternal child health is not a health problem, it is a social problem with health consequences.” What are some of the social and economic factors that influence women and children’s ability to be healthy? What are some things that can be done to improve the health of women and children? What we can learn from tobacco prevention efforts to improve maternal and child health? What specific strategies could we use from tobacco? Or, are there things we could learn from other countries?

Week 8 question

Explain, in your own words, what the 3 levels of prevention are. Pick a specific mental health or injury area and discuss how we could intervene at each of the three levels of prevention to improve health outcomes. How would the strategies need to be different for each of the different levels of prevention? What is at least 1 thing that you think we can do to reduce stigma surrounding mental health or surrounding seeking help for mental health issues?

Week 9 question

In your own words, explain the differences and the relationship between medical care and public health. Why are the two sometimes in conflict with each other? How could we change our current system (either the medical care system or the public health system) to improve health outcomes for everyone in our society (Please provide at least 2 specific examples of changes we could make)? Are there any potential unintended consequences of making these changes?

Week 10 question

Which is the fastest growing age group in U.S. society? What are the potential effects as this big group of people ages? What are some of the challenges we will be facing with the younger generations not being as healthy at an earlier age? Can our focus simply be on trying to help people live longer, or do we also need to be focusing on improving quality of life? What are some specific strategies we can implement to help people age healthily? How can we strengthen public health efforts in the future to support older people and society as a whole?

Extra credit:

Please pick one of the news stories below and answer the following questions about it.

1. How/why is this topic a public health issue?

2. Who is most affected by the issue?

3. What are the larger societal implications of the issue, and what happens if things don’t change?

4. What do you think are some of the upstream prevention strategies that we could be implementing to address this problem?

5. What do you think are some of the policy, systems, or environmental changes that could be made to address the problem?

Story 1: The Opioid Crisis is Surging in Black, Urban Communities

Story 2: What If We Treated Gun Violence Like A Public Health Crisis?

Story 3: Increased Hours Online Correlate With An Uptick In Teen Depression, Suicidal Thoughts

Story 4: Scientists Start To Tease Out The Subtler Ways Racism Hurts Health

Story 5: Is There a Ticking Time Bomb Under the Arctic?