None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles among adolescents are global public health problems which increase the risk of obesity and reduced psychosocial health. Active transport to school is a convenient way to integrate physical activity into everyday life. Several Dunedin neighbourhoods have been undergoing on-road and off-road cycling infrastructure construction since 2014 and pedestrian-related infrastructure changes in 2018, affecting 6 out of 12 Dunedin secondary schools. The BEATS Natural Experiment study will examine the effects of these built environment changes on active transport to school in Dunedin adolescents, and their physical activity levels, as well as their perceptions of the school neighbourhood built environment. Data will be collected in schools using published research methods. Analysis will include 2014/2015 BEATS Study data (www.otago.ac.nz/beats), and contemporary ecological models for active transport that account for individual, social, environmental, and policy factors. Findings will inform planning of future built environment and active transport interventions.
Interventions
The built environment changes in Dunedin, New Zealand, that began in 2014 included changes in the cycling and pedestrian infrastructure include both macro-scale features (e.g., building of new cycle lanes, creation of quiet streets) and micro-scale features (improvement in intersection design, pedestrian infrastructure, safety features (traffic calming measures and aesthetics). The neighbourhoods of six out of 12 secondary schools in Dunedin, New Zealand, are affected with these built environmen
The built environment changes in Dunedin, New Zealand, that began in 2014 included changes in the cycling and pedestrian infrastructure include both macro-scale features (e.g., building of new cycle lanes, creation of quiet streets) and micro-scale features (improvement in intersection design, pedestrian infrastructure, safety features (traffic calming measures and aesthetics). The neighbourhoods of six out of 12 secondary schools in Dunedin, New Zealand, are affected with these built environment changes. Those schools will be considered "intervention" or "exposure" schools. Those built environment changes occurred regarding of whether the BEATS Natural Experiment Study was conducted or not. Baseline data collection was completed in 2014-2015. Environmental scan of the school neighbourhoods of all 12 Dunedin secondary schools was completed between September 2017 and January 2018 (Pocock et al., 2019). The BEATS Natural Experiment follow-up assessments including the student survey, accelerometer assessments and mapping will be conducted in 2020. Focus groups will be conducted in 2021. Reference: Pocock T, Moore A, Keall M, Mandic S. Physical and Spatial Assessment of School Neighbourhood Built Environments for Active Transport to School in Adolescents from Dunedin (New Zealand). Health & Place. 2019;55:1-8. (Epub: 13 Nov 2018); DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.10.003
Sponsors
Sandra Mandic
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
13 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Adolescents of both genders attending one of the 12 Dunedin secondary schools at the time of the data collection. Age 13 to 18 years.
Exclusion criteria
Adolescents without signed consent and those with invalid consent for participation in this study.
Outcome results
None listed