Biostatistics: Cross-Sectional Study of Alcohol Consumption

This case study provides a biostatistical analysis of a research paper titled "Hazardous alcohol consumption among university students in Ireland: a cross-sectional study" published in BMJ Open. The analysis employs the STROBE checklist to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the study's methodology, including sample selection, data collection, and statistical analysis. Key aspects reviewed include the study's reliance on a Master's thesis for baseline data, the use of univariate and multivariate logistic regression, the representation of males and females, and the adjustments made for confounding variables. The analysis also considers the study's limitations, such as the lack of subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. The study uses a classroom distributed paper questionnaire and includes a sample of 2275 undergraduates to investigate the prevalence and correlates of hazardous alcohol consumption (HAC).

Running Head: BIOSTATISTICS
Biostatistics
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author’s note

1BIOSTATISTICS
Table of Contents
Question 1........................................................................................................................................2
Item 10.........................................................................................................................................2
Item 12.........................................................................................................................................2
Item 13.........................................................................................................................................3
Item 14.........................................................................................................................................4
Item 15.........................................................................................................................................4
Item 16.........................................................................................................................................5
Item 17.........................................................................................................................................5
Question 2........................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................16
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................17

2BIOSTATISTICS
Question 1
In the present analysis we examine “Hazardous alcohol consumption among university
students in Ireland: a cross-sectional study” by Davoren et al., (2015) published in BMJ Open.
The analysis of the paper is based on Strobe Checklist.
Item 10
Strength Weakness
The basis of the study was a Master’s thesis
from the same college. Hence an estimate of
proportion of students undertaking HAC could
be reliably done.
The study was based on a yet unpublished
Master’s thesis wherein the information was
collected in 2009-10. The present study was
done in 2012. Thus the basis of the information
is old.
Item 12
Strength Weakness
The factors associated with HAC were
separately calculated for men and women using
univariate and multivariate logistic regression.
OR and 95% CI were calculated for
Multivariate Analysis.
Only 10% of the forms were checked for
errors.

3BIOSTATISTICS
Item 13
Strength Weakness
The proportion of males and females in the
study and thus undertaking HAC is well
documented. Control was undertaken for age,
subject of study for both sexes. Incidence of
smoking, illicit drug use and smoking habit
was also taken into consideration.
The prevalence of HAC amongst males and
females are well documented.
Item 14
Strength Weakness
The study participants were from University
college Cork. The participants were
segregated on the basis of age, course of study,
year in college, accommodation, BMI,
smoking, mental wellbeing, illicit drug use and
no of sexual partners.
Table 1 of the paper presents the socio-
demographic profile segregated through males
and females. There was over-representation of
students from first year and under-
representation of students from final year.

4BIOSTATISTICS
Item 15
Strength Weakness
The percentage of students having prevalence
towards HAC was documented in table 1.
Significance values for differences in
demographic profile was presented.
The present study was done in 2012 and
reported in 2014. The study was compared
with another study which was previously done
and was reported in a Master’s thesis of 2009-
10.
Item 16
Strength Weakness
No confounding effects were chosen for the
present study. The cross-sectional variables
considered the prevalence of HAC amongst
Males and Females.
Adjustments to 95% CI were made under two
categories –
1. Course of study, Accommodation type
and College Year
2. Age Adjusted Model

5BIOSTATISTICS
Item 17
Strength Weakness
The cross-sectional study was between males
and females.
For the present study no sub-groups were
selected. In addition, no-sensitivity analysis
was done.

6BIOSTATISTICS
Bibliography
Davoren, M.P., Shiely, F., Byrne, M. and Perry, I.J., 2015. Hazardous alcohol consumption
among university students in Ireland: a cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 5(1)
Vandenbroucke, J. P., Von Elm, E., Altman, D. G., Gøtzsche, P. C., Mulrow, C. D., Pocock, S.
J., ... & Egger, M. (2007). Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in
Epidemiology (STROBE): explanation and elaboration. Annals of internal medicine, 147(8), W-
163.
Von Elm, E., Altman, D. G., Egger, M., Pocock, S. J., Gøtzsche, P. C., Vandenbroucke, J. P., &
Strobe Initiative. (2007). The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in
Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. Preventive
medicine, 45(4), 247-251.