Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocol
Introduction Natural experiments are considered a priority for examining causal associations between the built environment (BE) and physical activity (PA) because the randomised controlled trial design is rarely feasible. Few natural experiments have examined the effects of walking and cycling infra...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2020-03-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/3/e034899.full |
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| author | Michael Keall Kirsten Coppell John C Spence Sandra Mandic Debbie Hopkins Enrique García Bengoechea Antoni Moore Susan Sandretto Christina Ergler Anna Rolleston Gavin Kidd Gordon Wilson |
| author_facet | Michael Keall Kirsten Coppell John C Spence Sandra Mandic Debbie Hopkins Enrique García Bengoechea Antoni Moore Susan Sandretto Christina Ergler Anna Rolleston Gavin Kidd Gordon Wilson |
| author_sort | Michael Keall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Natural experiments are considered a priority for examining causal associations between the built environment (BE) and physical activity (PA) because the randomised controlled trial design is rarely feasible. Few natural experiments have examined the effects of walking and cycling infrastructure on PA and active transport in adults, and none have examined the effects of such changes on PA and active transport to school among adolescents. We conducted the Built Environment and Active Transport to School (BEATS) Study in Dunedin city, New Zealand, in 2014–2017. Since 2014, on-road and off-road cycling infrastructure construction has occurred in some Dunedin neighbourhoods, including the neighbourhoods of 6 out of 12 secondary schools. Pedestrian-related infrastructure changes began in 2018. As an extension of the BEATS Study, the BEATS Natural Experiment (BEATS-NE) (2019–2022) will examine the effects of BE changes on adolescents’ active transport to school in Dunedin, New Zealand.Methods and analysis The BEATS-NE Study will employ contemporary ecological models for active transport that account for individual, social, environmental and policy factors. The published BEATS Study methodology (surveys, accelerometers, mapping, Geographic Information Science analysis and focus groups) and novel methods (environmental scan of school neighbourhoods and participatory mapping) will be used. A core component continues to be the community-based participatory approach with the sustained involvement of key stakeholders to generate locally relevant data, and facilitate knowledge translation into evidence-based policy and planning.Ethics and dissemination The BEATS-NE Study has been approved by the University of Otago Ethics Committee (reference: 17/188). The results will be disseminated through scientific publications and symposia, and reports and presentations to stakeholders.Trial registration number ACTRN12619001335189. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-550b5e0dd5ca41f7b4bbae531034041f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-550b5e0dd5ca41f7b4bbae531034041f2025-08-20T02:19:33ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552020-03-0110310.1136/bmjopen-2019-034899Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocolMichael Keall0Kirsten Coppell1John C Spence2Sandra Mandic3Debbie Hopkins4Enrique García Bengoechea5Antoni Moore6Susan Sandretto7Christina Ergler8Anna Rolleston9Gavin Kidd10Gordon Wilson11Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand1 Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand2 Sedentary Living Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaCentre for Sustainability, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandTransport Study Unit, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UKHealth Research Institute, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, IrelandSchool of Surveying, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandCollege of Education, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandSchool of Geography, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandThe Centre for Health, Tauranga, New ZealandDunedin Secondary Schools` Partnership, Dunedin, New ZealandDunedin Secondary Schools` Partnership, Dunedin, New ZealandIntroduction Natural experiments are considered a priority for examining causal associations between the built environment (BE) and physical activity (PA) because the randomised controlled trial design is rarely feasible. Few natural experiments have examined the effects of walking and cycling infrastructure on PA and active transport in adults, and none have examined the effects of such changes on PA and active transport to school among adolescents. We conducted the Built Environment and Active Transport to School (BEATS) Study in Dunedin city, New Zealand, in 2014–2017. Since 2014, on-road and off-road cycling infrastructure construction has occurred in some Dunedin neighbourhoods, including the neighbourhoods of 6 out of 12 secondary schools. Pedestrian-related infrastructure changes began in 2018. As an extension of the BEATS Study, the BEATS Natural Experiment (BEATS-NE) (2019–2022) will examine the effects of BE changes on adolescents’ active transport to school in Dunedin, New Zealand.Methods and analysis The BEATS-NE Study will employ contemporary ecological models for active transport that account for individual, social, environmental and policy factors. The published BEATS Study methodology (surveys, accelerometers, mapping, Geographic Information Science analysis and focus groups) and novel methods (environmental scan of school neighbourhoods and participatory mapping) will be used. A core component continues to be the community-based participatory approach with the sustained involvement of key stakeholders to generate locally relevant data, and facilitate knowledge translation into evidence-based policy and planning.Ethics and dissemination The BEATS-NE Study has been approved by the University of Otago Ethics Committee (reference: 17/188). The results will be disseminated through scientific publications and symposia, and reports and presentations to stakeholders.Trial registration number ACTRN12619001335189.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/3/e034899.full |
| spellingShingle | Michael Keall Kirsten Coppell John C Spence Sandra Mandic Debbie Hopkins Enrique García Bengoechea Antoni Moore Susan Sandretto Christina Ergler Anna Rolleston Gavin Kidd Gordon Wilson Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocol BMJ Open |
| title | Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocol |
| title_full | Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocol |
| title_fullStr | Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocol |
| title_full_unstemmed | Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocol |
| title_short | Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocol |
| title_sort | built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents beats natural experiment study protocol |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/3/e034899.full |
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