Questioning the application of risk of bias tools in appraising evidence from natural experimental studies: critical reflections on Benton et al., IJBNPA 2016.
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Humphreys, David K
Panter, Jenna https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8870-718X
Ogilvie, David https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0270-4672
Abstract
We recently read the article by Benton et al. which reviewed risk of bias in natural experimental studies investigating the impact of the built environment on physical activity (Benton et al., 2016; Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 13:107). As a technical exercise in assessing risk of bias to understand study quality, we found the results of this study both interesting and potentially useful. However, it prompted a number of concerns with the use of risk of bias tools for assessing the quality of evidence from studies exploiting natural experiments. As we discuss in this commentary, the rigid application of such tools could have adverse effects on the uptake and use of natural experiments in population health research and practice.
Description
Keywords
Built environment, Natural experiments, Physical activity, Risk of bias, Bias, Exercise, Humans, Qualitative Research, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors
Journal Title
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
1479-5868
1479-5868
1479-5868
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publisher DOI
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/6)
Medical Research Council (MR/K023187/1)
Wellcome Trust (087636/Z/08/Z)
Economic and Social Research Council (ES/G007462/1)
TCC (None)
Medical Research Council (MR/K023187/1)
Wellcome Trust (087636/Z/08/Z)
Economic and Social Research Council (ES/G007462/1)
TCC (None)