Evaluating the impact of improvements in urban green space on older adults’ physical activity and wellbeing: protocol for a natural experimental study
Abstract Background Creating or improving urban green space has the potential to be an effective, sustainable and far-reaching way to increase physical activity and improve other aspects of wellbeing in the population. However, there is a dearth of well-conducted natural experimental studies examini...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5812-z |
| _version_ | 1828946480988160000 |
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| author | Jack S. Benton Jamie Anderson Sarah Cotterill Matthew Dennis Sarah J. Lindley David P. French |
| author_facet | Jack S. Benton Jamie Anderson Sarah Cotterill Matthew Dennis Sarah J. Lindley David P. French |
| author_sort | Jack S. Benton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Creating or improving urban green space has the potential to be an effective, sustainable and far-reaching way to increase physical activity and improve other aspects of wellbeing in the population. However, there is a dearth of well-conducted natural experimental studies examining the causal effect of changing urban green space on physical activity and wellbeing. This is especially true in older adults and in the United Kingdom. This paper describes a natural experimental study to evaluate the effect of four small-scale urban street greening interventions on older adults’ physical activity and wellbeing over a 1-year period, relative to eight matched comparison sites. All sites are located in deprived urban neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. Methods Components of the interventions include tree and flower planting, and artificial tree decorations. Eight unimproved comparison sites were selected based on a systematic process of matching using several known objective and subjective environmental correlates of physical activity in older adults. The outcome measures are physical activity and two other behavioural indicators of wellbeing (Connect: connecting with other people; and Take Notice: taking notice of the environment), collected using a newly developed observation tool. The primary outcome is Take Notice behaviour due to largest effects on this behaviour being anticipated from improvements in the aesthetic quality of green space at the intervention sites. Baseline data collection occurred in September 2017 before the interventions were installed in November 2017. Follow-up data collection will be repeated in February/ March 2018 (6 months) and September 2018 (12 months). Discussion The present study permits a rare opportunity to evaluate the causal effects of small-scale changes in urban green space in an understudied population and setting. Although the interventions are expected to have small effects on the outcomes, the present study contributes to developing natural experiment methodology in this field by addressing key methodological weaknesses causing high risk of bias in previous natural experimental studies. Key improvements to reduce risk of bias in the present study are rigorous matching of multiple comparison sites and appropriate statistical control of key confounders. Trial registration Retrospectively registered with study ID NCT03575923. Date of registration: 3 July 2018. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T05:11:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8f7f93e59ff460db8ee3c86a75820bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T05:11:32Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8f7f93e59ff460db8ee3c86a75820bf2022-12-21T23:15:57ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582018-07-0118111510.1186/s12889-018-5812-zEvaluating the impact of improvements in urban green space on older adults’ physical activity and wellbeing: protocol for a natural experimental studyJack S. Benton0Jamie Anderson1Sarah Cotterill2Matthew Dennis3Sarah J. Lindley4David P. French5Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, Division of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of ManchesterUrban Institute, Department of Geography, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of ManchesterCentre for Biostatistics, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, University of ManchesterDepartment of Geography, School of Education, Environment and Development, University of ManchesterDepartment of Geography, School of Education, Environment and Development, University of ManchesterManchester Centre for Health Psychology, Division of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of ManchesterAbstract Background Creating or improving urban green space has the potential to be an effective, sustainable and far-reaching way to increase physical activity and improve other aspects of wellbeing in the population. However, there is a dearth of well-conducted natural experimental studies examining the causal effect of changing urban green space on physical activity and wellbeing. This is especially true in older adults and in the United Kingdom. This paper describes a natural experimental study to evaluate the effect of four small-scale urban street greening interventions on older adults’ physical activity and wellbeing over a 1-year period, relative to eight matched comparison sites. All sites are located in deprived urban neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. Methods Components of the interventions include tree and flower planting, and artificial tree decorations. Eight unimproved comparison sites were selected based on a systematic process of matching using several known objective and subjective environmental correlates of physical activity in older adults. The outcome measures are physical activity and two other behavioural indicators of wellbeing (Connect: connecting with other people; and Take Notice: taking notice of the environment), collected using a newly developed observation tool. The primary outcome is Take Notice behaviour due to largest effects on this behaviour being anticipated from improvements in the aesthetic quality of green space at the intervention sites. Baseline data collection occurred in September 2017 before the interventions were installed in November 2017. Follow-up data collection will be repeated in February/ March 2018 (6 months) and September 2018 (12 months). Discussion The present study permits a rare opportunity to evaluate the causal effects of small-scale changes in urban green space in an understudied population and setting. Although the interventions are expected to have small effects on the outcomes, the present study contributes to developing natural experiment methodology in this field by addressing key methodological weaknesses causing high risk of bias in previous natural experimental studies. Key improvements to reduce risk of bias in the present study are rigorous matching of multiple comparison sites and appropriate statistical control of key confounders. Trial registration Retrospectively registered with study ID NCT03575923. Date of registration: 3 July 2018.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5812-zPhysical activityWellbeingUrban green spaceOlder adultsNatural experimentProtocol |
| spellingShingle | Jack S. Benton Jamie Anderson Sarah Cotterill Matthew Dennis Sarah J. Lindley David P. French Evaluating the impact of improvements in urban green space on older adults’ physical activity and wellbeing: protocol for a natural experimental study BMC Public Health Physical activity Wellbeing Urban green space Older adults Natural experiment Protocol |
| title | Evaluating the impact of improvements in urban green space on older adults’ physical activity and wellbeing: protocol for a natural experimental study |
| title_full | Evaluating the impact of improvements in urban green space on older adults’ physical activity and wellbeing: protocol for a natural experimental study |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the impact of improvements in urban green space on older adults’ physical activity and wellbeing: protocol for a natural experimental study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the impact of improvements in urban green space on older adults’ physical activity and wellbeing: protocol for a natural experimental study |
| title_short | Evaluating the impact of improvements in urban green space on older adults’ physical activity and wellbeing: protocol for a natural experimental study |
| title_sort | evaluating the impact of improvements in urban green space on older adults physical activity and wellbeing protocol for a natural experimental study |
| topic | Physical activity Wellbeing Urban green space Older adults Natural experiment Protocol |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5812-z |
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