TY - JOUR

T1 - Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA)

T2 - protocol for a multi-centre, longitudinal study Energy balance-related behaviours

AU - Dons, Evi

AU - Götschi, Thomas

AU - Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark

AU - De Nazelle, Audrey

AU - Anaya, Esther

AU - Avila-Palencia, Ione

AU - Brand, Christian

AU - Cole-Hunter, Tom

AU - Gaupp-Berghausen, Mailin

AU - Kahlmeier, Sonja

AU - Laeremans, Michelle

AU - Mueller, Natalie

AU - Orjuela, Juan Pablo

AU - Raser, Elisabeth

AU - Rojas-Rueda, David

AU - Standaert, Arnout

AU - Stigell, Erik

AU - Uhlmann, Tina

AU - Gerike, Regine

AU - Int Panis, Luc

N1 - Funding Information: This research is receiving funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program under grant agreement No. 602624 (FP7-HEALTH-2013-INNOVATION-1) (Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches). Duration: 1 November 2013 – 31 October 2017. Evi Dons is supported by a postdoctoral scholarship from FWO (Research Foundation Flanders). Publisher Copyright: © 2015 Dons et al.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Background: Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases, yet many are not sufficiently active. The Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA) study aims to better understand active mobility (walking and cycling for transport solely or in combination with public transport) as an innovative approach to integrate physical activity into individuals' everyday lives. The PASTA study will collect data of multiple cities in a longitudinal cohort design to study correlates of active mobility, its effect on overall physical activity, crash risk and exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Methods/Design: A set of online questionnaires incorporating gold standard approaches from the physical activity and transport fields have been developed, piloted and are now being deployed in a longitudinal study in seven European cities (Antwerp, Barcelona, London, Oerebro, Rome, Vienna, Zurich). In total, 14000 adults are being recruited (2000 in each city). A first questionnaire collects baseline information; follow-up questionnaires sent every 13 days collect prospective data on travel behaviour, levels of physical activity and traffic safety incidents. Self-reported data will be validated with objective data in subsamples using conventional and novel methods. Accelerometers, GPS and tracking apps record routes and activity. Air pollution and physical activity are measured to study their combined effects on health biomarkers. Exposure-adjusted crash risks will be calculated for active modes, and crash location audits are performed to study the role of the built environment. Ethics committees in all seven cities have given independent approval for the study. Discussion: The PASTA study collects a wealth of subjective and objective data on active mobility and physical activity. This will allow the investigation of numerous correlates of active mobility and physical activity using a data set that advances previous efforts in its richness, geographical coverage and comprehensiveness. Results will inform new health impact assessment models and support efforts to promote and facilitate active mobility in cities.

AB - Background: Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases, yet many are not sufficiently active. The Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA) study aims to better understand active mobility (walking and cycling for transport solely or in combination with public transport) as an innovative approach to integrate physical activity into individuals' everyday lives. The PASTA study will collect data of multiple cities in a longitudinal cohort design to study correlates of active mobility, its effect on overall physical activity, crash risk and exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Methods/Design: A set of online questionnaires incorporating gold standard approaches from the physical activity and transport fields have been developed, piloted and are now being deployed in a longitudinal study in seven European cities (Antwerp, Barcelona, London, Oerebro, Rome, Vienna, Zurich). In total, 14000 adults are being recruited (2000 in each city). A first questionnaire collects baseline information; follow-up questionnaires sent every 13 days collect prospective data on travel behaviour, levels of physical activity and traffic safety incidents. Self-reported data will be validated with objective data in subsamples using conventional and novel methods. Accelerometers, GPS and tracking apps record routes and activity. Air pollution and physical activity are measured to study their combined effects on health biomarkers. Exposure-adjusted crash risks will be calculated for active modes, and crash location audits are performed to study the role of the built environment. Ethics committees in all seven cities have given independent approval for the study. Discussion: The PASTA study collects a wealth of subjective and objective data on active mobility and physical activity. This will allow the investigation of numerous correlates of active mobility and physical activity using a data set that advances previous efforts in its richness, geographical coverage and comprehensiveness. Results will inform new health impact assessment models and support efforts to promote and facilitate active mobility in cities.

KW - Air pollution

KW - Cycling

KW - Longitudinal

KW - Physical activity

KW - Study protocol

KW - Traffic safety

KW - Travel behaviour

KW - Walking

U2 - 10.1186/s12889-015-2453-3

DO - 10.1186/s12889-015-2453-3

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26577129

AN - SCOPUS:84947269961

VL - 15

JO - BMC Public Health

JF - BMC Public Health

SN - 1471-2458

IS - 1

M1 - 1126

ER -