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Harmonising data on the correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in young people: Methods and lessons
Andrew J Atkin1,2, Stuart J H Biddle3, Stephanie T Broyles4
1School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK. A.Atkin@uea.ac.uk.
Insights
Pooling data on children's physical activity and sedentary behavior requires transparent methods. The International Children's Accelerometry Database (ICAD) expanded its data, harmonizing non-accelerometer information for better research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health Research
- Behavioral Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Understanding children's physical activity and sedentary behavior necessitates large, diverse datasets.
- Pooling data from multiple studies is crucial for comprehensive analysis.
- Transparency in data collation and harmonization is essential for accurate interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the acquisition, management, and harmonization of non-accelerometer data for the International Children's Accelerometry Database (ICAD).
- To expand the ICAD database with longitudinal accelerometer data and a wider range of behavioral, social, and environmental characteristics.
- To provide harmonized variables and guidance for the research community to facilitate data analysis.
Main Methods:
- ICAD partners shared accelerometer data and relevant construct information following a consultation.
- Data were collated into a central repository for cataloging and harmonization.
- Harmonized variables were developed iteratively with expert input, and comprehensive documentation was created.
Main Results:
- The ICAD expansion increased studies with longitudinal accelerometer data and broadened exposure variable characteristics.
- Core harmonized variables (e.g., parent education, ethnicity, travel mode) were derived.
- Guidance documents and tools for creating new harmonized variables were made available.
Conclusions:
- The project confirms the feasibility of pooling data on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and determinants from multiple studies.
- Rigorous retrospective data harmonization is critical for appropriate analysis and interpretation.
- The ICAD documentation serves as a potential guide for similar data harmonization projects.
Background:
Large, heterogeneous datasets are required to enhance understanding of the multi-level influences on children's physical activity and sedentary behaviour. One route to achieving this is through the pooling and co-analysis of data from multiple studies. Where this approach is used, transparency of the methodology for data collation and harmonisation is essential to enable appropriate analysis and interpretation of the derived data. In this paper, we describe the acquisition, management and harmonisation of non-accelerometer data in a project to expand the International Children's Accelerometry Database (ICAD).
Method:
Following a consultation process, ICAD partners were requested to share accelerometer data and information on selected behavioural, social, environmental and health-related constructs. All data were collated into a single repository for cataloguing and harmonisation. Harmonised variables were derived iteratively, with input from the ICAD investigators and a panel of invited experts. Extensive documentation, describing the source data and harmonisation procedure, was prepared and made available through the ICAD website.
Results:
Work to expand ICAD has increased the number of studies with longitudinal accelerometer data, and expanded the breadth of behavioural, social and environmental characteristics that can be used as exposure variables. A set of core harmonised variables, including parent education, ethnicity, school travel mode/duration and car ownership, were derived for use by the research community. Guidance documents and facilities to enable the creation of new harmonised variables were also devised and made available to ICAD users. An expanded ICAD database was made available in May 2017.
Conclusion:
The project to expand ICAD further demonstrates the feasibility of pooling data on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and potential determinants from multiple studies. Key to this process is the rigorous conduct and reporting of retrospective data harmonisation, which is essential to the appropriate analysis and interpretation of derived data. These documents, made available through the ICAD website, may also serve as a guide to others undertaking similar projects.
