Callanan Sophie, Delahunt Anna, Crowley Rachel K, Twomey Patrick J, Phillips Catherine M, Start Alex O, McDonnell Ciara M, Cody Declan, McAuliffe Fionnuala M
UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Department of Endocrinology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Health Expect. 2025 Aug;28(4):e70359. doi: 10.1111/hex.70359.
Limited research has investigated young people's opinions on health measures that are used in clinical and research settings. This study aimed to describe young people's views on research methods utilised in a longitudinal birth cohort. It also aimed to explore the feasibility of (i) blood pressure and a fitness assessment as a substitute for blood biomarkers; (ii) foot length as a substitute for maternal-reported stage of puberty and (iii) neck and mid-upper arm circumference as a substitute for body composition analysis in preteens (9-11-year-olds).
This is a mixed-methods analysis of preteens (n = 408) who were born into the ROLO longitudinal birth cohort study. Weight, height, skinfold thickness, circumferences, body composition, blood pressure, fitness (shuttle run test score), blood biomarkers, stage of puberty and foot length were obtained at 9-11 years of age. A subgroup completed a Likert-style acceptability questionnaire after their study visit and took part in public and patient involvement to gain further insight into opinions of health measures utilised. Statistical comparisons and linear regression models explored associations in the total group and stratified by child sex. Results were adjusted for multiple testing.
Of 50 preteens who completed an acceptability questionnaire after their study visit, no participants rated the study measurements, exercises or questionnaires as unacceptable research methods, and only 5% rated providing a blood sample as unacceptable. Blood pressure percentiles and fitness scores were not strongly associated with blood biomarkers. In the total group, after adjustment for multiple testing, neck and mid-upper arm circumference were positively associated with body mass index z-score (Beta [B] = 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34,0.49, p < 0.001, q = 0.015; B = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.29, 0.35, p < 0.001, q = 0.005), waist circumference (cm) (B = 2.83, 95% CI = 2.22, 3.45, p < 0.001, q = 0.016; B = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.78, 2.41, p < 0.001, q = 0.010) and body fat (%) (B = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.66, 2.87, p < 0.001, q = 0.018; B = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.80, 2.30, p < 0.001, q = 0.008), respectively.
Research methods were acceptable to preteens. Neck and mid-upper arm circumference may serve as simple and less burdensome indicators of adiposity. Future research should explore minimally invasive blood sampling techniques.
Preteens contributed to the manuscript analysis by sharing their insights and ideas related to health measurements used in a longitudinal birth cohort study. Their input provided important perspectives on the acceptability of health measures in this age group that may have important implications for researchers and clinicians conducting health research with youth.
针对年轻人对临床和研究环境中所采用健康测量方法的看法，相关研究较少。本研究旨在描述年轻人对一项纵向出生队列研究中所使用研究方法的观点。同时，本研究还旨在探讨以下方面的可行性：（i）用血压和体能评估替代血液生物标志物；（ii）用足长替代母亲报告的青春期阶段；（iii）用颈部和上臂中部周长替代对儿童中期（9至11岁）的身体成分分析。
这是一项对参与ROLO纵向出生队列研究的儿童中期（n = 408）进行的混合方法分析。在9至11岁时获取了体重、身高、皮褶厚度、周长、身体成分、血压、体能（穿梭跑测试分数）、血液生物标志物、青春期阶段和足长等数据。一个亚组在研究访问后完成了一份李克特式可接受性问卷，并参与了公众和患者参与活动，以进一步深入了解对所采用健康测量方法的看法。统计比较和线性回归模型探讨了总体组以及按儿童性别分层后的关联。对结果进行了多重检验校正。
在50名研究访问后完成可接受性问卷的儿童中期中，没有参与者将研究测量、运动或问卷评定为不可接受的研究方法，只有5%的参与者认为提供血样不可接受。血压百分位数和体能分数与血液生物标志物的关联不强。在总体组中，经过多重检验校正后，颈部和上臂中部周长分别与体重指数z评分（β[B]=0.42，95%置信区间[CI]=0.34,0.49，p<0.001，q=0.015；B = 0.32，95% CI = 0.29, 0.35，p<0.001，q = 0.005）、腰围（cm）（B = 2.83，95% CI = 2.22, 3.45，p<0.001，q = 0.016；B = 2.10，95% CI = 1.78, 2.41，p<0.001，q = 0.010）和体脂（%）（B = 2.26，95% CI = 1.66, 2.87，p<0.001，q = 0.018；B = 2.05，95% CI = 1.80, 2.30，p<0.001，q = 0.008）呈正相关。
研究方法为儿童中期所接受。颈部和上臂中部周长可作为肥胖程度的简单且负担较小的指标。未来研究应探索微创采血技术。
儿童中期通过分享他们对纵向出生队列研究中所使用健康测量方法的见解和想法，为稿件分析做出了贡献。他们的意见为该年龄组健康测量方法的可接受性提供了重要观点，这可能对针对青少年开展健康研究的研究人员和临床医生具有重要意义。
