Identification of factors important to study quality in exercise performance studies

Area of Science:

• Exercise Science
• Sports Medicine
• Human Performance

Background:

• Ensuring quality in exercise performance research is crucial for reliable findings.
• Factors influencing exercise performance, such as diet and body composition, require careful consideration.
• Previous research has not comprehensively identified all critical quality indicators across different exercise domains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and define factors critical for ensuring quality in exercise performance studies.
• To specifically address quality indicators within aerobic, anaerobic, and strength exercise research.
• To investigate factors related to diet and body composition relevant to exercise performance studies.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing focus groups and a modified Delphi method.
• Exercise science academics and students generated initial quality factors.
• International researchers refined and reached consensus on these factors through a two-round Delphi survey.

Main Results:

• A total of 22 generic and 71 domain-specific factors were initially generated.
• Consensus was reached on 19 generic factors and 66 domain-specific factors after two Delphi rounds.
• Key identified factors included exercise testing protocols, equipment standardization, and intervention compliance.

Conclusions:

• This study successfully identified numerous discipline-specific factors crucial for exercise performance study quality.
• The findings can inform the development of a standardized tool for evaluating study quality.
• These identified factors can also guide best practices in clinical settings for exercise interventions.