Gamification of active travel to school: A pilot evaluation of the Beat the Street physical activity intervention

Abstract Background Active travel to school contributes to multiple physical and psychosocial benefits for youth, yet population rates of active travel to school are alarmingly low in the USA and many other countries. Though walking school bus interventions are effective for increasing rates of active travel to school and children’s overall physical activity, uptake of such interventions has been low. The objective of this study was to conduct a mixed methods implementation evaluation to identify contextual factors that serve as barriers and facilitators among existing walking school bus programs. Methods Semi-structured interviews guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) were conducted with leaders of low-sustainability (n = 9) and high-sustainability (n = 11) programs across the USA. A combination of quantitative (CFIR-based) coding and inductive thematic analysis was used. The CFIR-based ratings were compared between the low- and high-sustainability programs and themes, subthemes, and exemplary quotes were provided to summarize the thematic analysis. Results In both the low- and high-sustainability programs, three of the 15 constructs assessed were commonly rated as positive (i.e., favorable for supporting implementation): student/family needs and resources, implementation climate, and planning. Three constructs were more often rated as positive in the high-sustainability programs: organizational incentives and rewards, engaging students and parents, and reflecting and evaluating. Three constructs were more often rated as positive in the low-sustainability programs: student/family needs and resources - built environment, available resources, and access to knowledge and information. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis: planning considerations, ongoing coordination considerations, resources and supports, and benefits. Conclusions Engagement of students, parents, and community members were among the factors that emerged across the quantitative and qualitative analyses as most critical for supporting walking school bus program implementation. The information provided by program leaders can help in the selection of implementation strategies that overcome known barriers for increasing the long-term success of community-based physical activity interventions such as the walking school bus.

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Is a Change to Active Travel to School an Important Source of Physical Activity for Chinese Children?

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.2016-0001 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 161-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Wendy Y. Huang ◽

Stephen H. Wong ◽

Gang He

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Mixed Models ◽

Linear Mixed Models ◽

Active Travel ◽

Chinese Children ◽

Travel Mode ◽

Age Related ◽

One Year ◽

Active Travel To School

This study investigated the association between a change in travel mode to school and one-year changes in physical activity (PA) among children in Hong Kong. Data from 677 children aged 7–10 years (56% boys) who participated in the Understanding Children’s Activity and Nutrition (UCAN) study were analyzed. During the 2010/11 and 2011/12 school years, the children wore an accelerometer for a week and their parents completed a questionnaire about the children’s modes of travel to school and nonschool destinations. Associations between a change in the mode of travel to school and changes in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were determined using linear mixed models, adjusting for covariates. Compared with children who consistently used passive travel modes, a change from passive to active travel to school was positively associated with changes in the percentage of time spent in MVPA (b = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.63, 2.02) and MVPA min/day (b = 10.97, 95% CI = 5.26, 16.68) on weekdays. Similar results were found for weekly MVPA. Promoting active travel to school may help to combat age-related decline in PA for some Chinese children. However, maintaining active travel to school may not be sufficient to halt the decreasing trend in MVPA with age.

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The Associations of Active Travel to School with Physical Activity and Screen Time Among Adolescents: Do Individual and Parental Characteristics Matter?

10.21203/rs.3.rs-52361/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Caihong Huang ◽

Aamir Raoof Memon ◽

Chaomei Liang ◽

Jin-Tao Hong ◽

Youliang Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Screen Time ◽

Parental Education ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Active Travel ◽

Education Level ◽

Parental Characteristics ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Active Travel To School

Abstract Background: Little is known about the relationship of active travel to school (ATS) with physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) by individual and parental characteristics among adolescents, especially in China. To address the research gap, this study aimed to explore the difference of sex, age, geographical location, parental occupation and education level in the relationship of ATS with PA and ST among students of grades 7-12 using cross-sectional data.Methods: In 13 cities of Hubei province, China, students from 39 public schools were recruited to engage in the survey. In total, 5898 students (response rate = 89.6%) were invited into this study. Participants were required to report their ATS (including its types), PA and ST as well as sociodemographic information using validated questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were used to report the information of all variables. Regression models were used to analyze the relationships of ATS and its types with PA and ST.Results: In a total of 4128 participants (boy: 50.9%; younger adolescents: 61.9%) included in the final analysis, the proportion of those with ATS was 47.3%. Regarding the types of ATS, walking accounted for over 30%, while cycling was 13.2%. Participants with ATS were more likely to have sufficient PA (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.14-1.39), especially among boys, younger adolescents and those with lower parental education level. However, ATS was not associated with ST (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.86-1.01). Participants with cycling had higher odds ratio of being physically active (OR for cycling = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.27-1.70; OR for walking = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.06-1.32). The association of ATS types with PA and ST differed by gender, age, geographical location and parental educational level as well as occupations.Conclusions: ATS may be a useful approach to increase PA among adolescents, but this should be explained by individual and parental characteristics.

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Sustainable Mobility Promotion During COVID-19

Journal of Health, Sports, and Kinesiology - JOHSK ◽

10.47544/johsk.2021.2.1.22 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 22-23

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Well Being ◽

Active Travel ◽

Physical Activity Guideline ◽

Future Research ◽

Sustainable Transport ◽

Sustainable Mobility ◽

Korean Society ◽

Policy Interventions ◽

Active Travel To School

With the recent COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Korea, surveys have reported rising issues with physical inactivity and obesity, social isolation, and economic depression. We analyzed the implications of active mobility and attuned it towards Korean society, exploring the possible scenarios, cases, and policies. Our research recommended active mobility to be an effective solution. Originally, the keywords used in Google Scholar were COVID-19, active mobility, and physical activity. To add more depth, active transport and active travel were inserted later on. The physical activity guideline, socioeconomic and environmental mechanisms were explored by scouring through documents published by various institutions and local authorities. Other cases about active mobility were summarized, while policy interventions, such as utilizing active travel to school were suggested. Sustainable Transport strives for the development of efficient methods of personal mobility on three major fronts: economic growth, environmental preservation (13 SDGs), and social development. Since the emergence of COVID-19, cases of sustainable active mobility have increased; countries utilizing WHO’s Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to find ways to improve health and well-being. Based on the recent development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), infrastructure, and the legal system in Korea, the country needs to implement safe methods for active mobility to develop further. Sustainable mobility could positively address the problems that arose with the emergence of COVID-19. Using good cases with a careful application to Korean society is necessary. Some policy interventions including active travel to school could be applicable with careful preparation and participation. Prudent advocacy from the government is also needed to promote new regulations. When we read about COVID-19 rapidly spreading across Europe, especially Italy, both researchers were alarmed at the news. As time passed, we were intrigued by the quick reaction of the governments to guide their cities from electric vehicles to sustainable transport. Through this paper, we were able to learn more in-depth details about Italy’s big cities and how they achieved homogeneous awareness regarding sustainable mobility (Table 1). Was COVID-19 the trigger? However, due to the different socioeconomic aspects between Italy and South Korea, the root cause was difficult to discern. We would recommend that future research addresses more comprehensive aspects for foreigners to learn from the study.

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Active travel to school, BMI and participation in organised and non-organised physical activity among Portuguese adolescents

Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.09.021 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 497-499 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Maria Paula Santos ◽

José Oliveira ◽

José Carlos Ribeiro ◽

Jorge Mota

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Active Travel ◽

Active Travel To School ◽

Portuguese Adolescents

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The Associations of Active Travel to School With Physical Activity and Screen Time Among Adolescents: Do Individual and Parental Characteristics Matter?

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.719742 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Caihong Huang ◽

Aamir Raoof Memon ◽

Jin Yan ◽

Youliang Lin ◽

Si-Tong Chen

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Screen Time ◽

Parental Education ◽

Active Travel ◽

Education Level ◽

Living Environment ◽

Parental Characteristics ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Active Travel To School

Little is known about the relationship of active travel to school (ATS) with physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) by individual and parental characteristics among adolescents, especially in China. To address the research gap, this study aimed to explore the difference of sex, age, living environment, parental occupation and education level in the relationship of ATS with PA and ST among students of grades 7–12 (aged 10–18 years) using cross-sectional data. In 13 cities of Hubei province, China, students from 39 public schools were recruited to engage in the survey. In total, 5,898 students (response rate = 89.6%) were invited into this study. Participants were required to report their ATS (including its types), PA and ST as well as sociodemographic information using a validated questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were used to report the information of all variables. Regression models were used to analyse the relationships of ATS and its types with PA and ST. In a total of 4,128 participants (boys: 50.9%; younger adolescents: 61.9%) included in the final analysis, the proportion of those with ATS was 47.3%. Regarding the types of ATS, walking accounted for over 30%, while cycling was 13.2%. Participants with ATS were more likely to have sufficient PA (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.14–1.39), especially among boys, younger adolescents and those with lower parental education level. However, ATS was not associated with ST (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.86–1.01). Participants with cycling had a higher odds ratio of being physically active (OR for cycling = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.27–1.70; OR for walking = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.06–1.32). The association of ATS types with PA and ST differed by gender, age, living environment and parental educational level as well as occupations. ATS may be a useful approach to increase PA among adolescents, but this should be explained by individual and parental characteristics.

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“CicloExpresso das Barrocas”: a Portuguese example of promoting physical activity

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.476 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

J Matos

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Community Involvement ◽

Good Practice ◽

Active Travel ◽

Sustainable Mobility ◽

Physically Active ◽

Children And Parents ◽

Local Parish ◽

Development Goals ◽

Active Travel To School

Abstract Issue Active travel to school is one of the main forms of physical activity for children, contributing to attainment of several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Young people who travel to school in an active way increase the overall amount of time they spend being physically active each day. Description of the Problem In 2017 the association Ciclaveiro created the 'CicloExpresso das Barrocas” in Aveiro. The 'CicloExpresso das Barrocas” is a “bike train” comprising a group of children cycling to their school - Escola Básica das Barrocas - accompanied by parents. It is organized by a group of parents, with the support of the local parish council and school parents associations. The main objective was to promote sustainable mobility and get children to go to school in sustainable and healthy means of transport. Results Since 2017 more “train lines” were created to different schools, involving more children and parents. In the near future, the aim is to increase the numbers of “train lines”, schools involved,”trains” per week and children and parents who use them regularly. Physical activity has not only health benefits and contributes to a child's physical, mental and emotional development but also has potentially broad social and academic gains. Additionally it contributes to social cohesion, which in turn can boost confidence and self-esteem. Lessons The promotion of active travel to school can be challenging and may require support from sectors other than education. This example shows it can be implemented successfully through collaboration among relevant sectors. CicloExpresso have been getting public recognition. In Aveiro it received a “family-community involvement award for his work with CicloExpresso”.This example of good practice can provide inspiration for policy-makers, schools and researchers. They provide an overview of actions taken to increase physical activity among children and adolescents. Key messages Children who travel to school in an active way increase the time they spend being physically active each day. Active travel to school can be challenging and may require support from many sectors.

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