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Social
ecological mapping of physical activity behaviours and health outcomes in
deprived inner-city communities
Abstract of
Research
Increasing population physical
activity (PA) is a priority for improved public health. The research proposed
will provide a detailed mapping of the environment at lower super output area
(SOA) level in Stoke on Trent (SoT) and will evaluate the relationship between
the environment, PA, health and health and social care utilisation. The
environmental mapping will aggregate data from available databases, augmented by
local data gathering and validation, to produce a comprehensive geo-coded map of
10 SOAs (covering a population ~15000). Further analysis, using graphical
information systems (GIS) and associated software, will be used to derive
indices through which to evaluate the relationship between environmental
characteristics and levels of physical activity and health, using hierarchical
linear modelling. Environmental indices used will include: proximity of PA
spaces and facilities, street connectivity, land use mix, population density,
mass transport provision, traffic, safety, crime, proximity of food outlets and
shops, weather and indices of multiple deprivation. The areas for mapping and
baseline assessment will be considered in two parts, one community-based and one
schools-based. The mapping approach will adopt a social ecological perspective,
with a view to better understand (and, in
future, change) the relationship between the environment and health
behaviours, such as physical activity. This will include input from
organisations, groups and individuals already working in the areas selected. The
ten neighbourhoods (SOAs) will be chosen (structured random sample) from the 79
eligible SOAs and the ten schools will be chosen (cluster randomised sample)
from the 17 secondary and 75 junior/ primary schools in SoT. For the
community-based sample, sixty participants in each area will be selected at
random from the Postcode Address File. Baseline data in the selected communities
will be collected by independent interviewer-administered survey covering
physical activity, stages of change process (self-efficacy, intentions,
attitudes, subjective norms) and outcomes, health, health-related quality of
life, health behaviours, perceptions of the local neighbourhood and
socio-demographic information (such as gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic
circumstances, education level, tenure). Data on health and social care
utilisation and costs for PA participation will also be gathered. For the
schools-based sample, 60 participants from each school will be selected randomly
from the school list. Measures used will include PA, fitness, body mass index
and waist-hip ratio. Objective measures of physical activity in both samples
will be obtained using accelerometry. Findings from the project will inform
public policy for increasing population PA and urban
design.
Principal Investigator and Lead
Applicant:
Professor Rachel Davey, Centre for
Sport & Exercise Research,
Faculty of Health and Sciences,
Brindley Building,
Tel:
01782 294019.
Jon Fairburn
2004 report on teaching and learning carried out by the QAA
Institute for Environment and Sustainability Research
Geography Department, Staffordshire University, College Road Stoke on Trent, ST4 2DE
01782 294015