Answer for NURS 8310 WEEK 2 STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF SECONDARY DATA SOURCES

Data plays a significant role in research to study phenomena of importance to populations and organizations. As such, there is always a great need for data. However, the lack of sufficient funding to support the collection of primary data means that secondary data and data sources are of great importance as they can also be used to drive research in the needed direction, for instance, studying particular population health problem to gain deeper insights into it (Pederson et al.,2020). As such, healthcare professionals and stakeholders can then come up with appropriate strategies to prevent and manage the condition and ensure better outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this assignment is to explore secondary data sources and datasets with information regarding a chosen population health problem. The Selected Population Health Problem The selected population health problem is obesity in children. This condition has shown to be a multifaceted and complex health problem. The condition is associated with body fat accumulation, leading to being overweight and eventually obesity. Recent research shows that obesity, especially among children, has substantially increased in the last few decades globally, causing a major health concern (Poorolajal et al.,2020). Indeed, various factors have led to such a trend, including cultural aspects, socioeconomic status, physical activity levels, diet, environmental factors, and genetic predisposition. One of the main aspects of the condition is that children who use beverages and low-nutrient and high-calorie foods usually are at a higher risk of obesity (Liberali et al.,2020). It is important to note that obesity has several negative impacts, which are also far more than the physical health effects. Indeed, it also impacts a person’s social and psychological well-being. Childhood obesity is also known to expose individuals to the risk of developing other comorbidities such as respiratory issues, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, among other conditions. In addition, such children are also more likely to suffer from other negative aspects, such as low self-esteem, discrimination, and bullying, which can negatively affect their life quality. These negative impacts only add to the need to use appropriate strategies to prevent and manage the condition. Early intervention is particularly key in the management as appropriate steps should be taken to ensure that the health risks do not progress into adulthood (Horesh et al.,2021). Therefore, research plays a significant role, where various variable are studied and explored to find out how they are associated with obesity among children The Selected Data Set, Associated Variables and Validity Several data sets exist where valuable data on childhood obesity can be obtained to further enhance research in this area. One of the data sets for childhood obesity is the National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES). This is a dataset that allows individuals to mainly access the nutritional and health status of children and adults (“CDC,” n.d). NHANES has various variables that can be used to study obesity in children. The variables include health behaviors, socioeconomic status, physical activities, dietary intake, age, weight, and Body Mass Index. All these variables have various relationships with obesity. Hence, they can be used to describe the nature of obesity in this selected population. NHANES is valid since the methods used in obtaining data are comprehensive and robust. For example, it uses a multistage sampling design, which ensures the representation of the non-institutionalized civilian. It also has a large sample size and uses standardized procedures and protocols. This data set has also been used for prior studies and publications. For example, a recent study by Uche et al. (2020) focused on childhood obesity in the US as impacted by environmental factors, where researchers obtained up to 200 environmental factors. The next data set is the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which contains data collected through telephone surveys. The data include chronic health conditions and health-related risk behaviors. The dataset is created through a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and every state. It also has various variables used in the study of childhood obesity. The variables include socioeconomic factors, access to healthcare, physical activity level, dietary habits, demographic variables, BMI, and self-reported weight and height. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is also valid due to various reasons. For example, a large sample size is involved since thousands of individuals complete the survey each year to obtain the data. It also uses standardized questionnaires which have been formulated in conjunction with the state health departments and CDC. This data set also undergoes regular peer review by experts drawn from epidemiology and