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Public health
Protocol
Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocol
  1. Sandra Mandic1,2,
  2. Debbie Hopkins3,
  3. Enrique García Bengoechea4,
  4. Antoni Moore5,
  5. Susan Sandretto6,
  6. Kirsten Coppell7,
  7. Christina Ergler8,
  8. Michael Keall9,
  9. Anna Rolleston10,
  10. Gavin Kidd11,
  11. Gordon Wilson11,
  12. John C Spence12
  1. 1Active Living Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  2. 2Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  3. 3Transport Study Unit, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
  4. 4Health Research Institute, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
  5. 5School of Surveying, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  6. 6College of Education, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  7. 7Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  8. 8School of Geography, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  9. 9Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
  10. 10Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance, University of Waikato, Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
  11. 11Dunedin Secondary Schools' Partnership, Dunedin, New Zealand
  12. 12Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, University of Alberta, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
  1. Correspondence to Dr Sandra Mandic; sandra.mandic{at}otago.ac.nz

Abstract

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.

  • active transport
  • adolescents
  • physical activity
  • built environment
  • natural experiment
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034899

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors SM is the principal investigator who conceptualised the overall BEATS Research Programme and the BEATS Natural Experiment Study, established research collaborations and led the project implementation. SM, DH, EGB, AM, SS, KC, CE, MK, AR, GK, GW and JCS contributed to the study design and obtaining research funding for the BEATS Natural Experiment. GW and GK were involved in the study design, design of study materials including study surveys, consultation with schools and assisted with schools’ recruitment. SM wrote the first draft. SM, DH, EGB, AM, SS, KC, CE, MK, AR, GK, GW and JCS contributed to subsequent drafts and approved the final version of the manuscript.

    • Funding The BEATS Natural Experiment was supported by the Health Research Council Project Grant (19/173) and internal grants from the Division of Science and School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago. The BEATS Study was supported by the Health Research Council of New Zealand Emerging Researcher First Grant (14/565), National Heart Foundation of New Zealand (1602 and 1615), Lottery Health Research Grant (Applic 341129), University of Otago Research Grant (UORG 2014), Dunedin City Council and internal grants from the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago.

    • Disclaimer The funding bodies did not have role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, data interpretation or writing this manuscript.

    • Map disclaimer The depiction of boundaries on this map does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of BMJ (or any member of its group) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, jurisdiction or area or of its authorities. This map is provided without any warranty of any kind, either express or implied.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research. Refer to the Methods and Analysis section for further details.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Ethics approval This study was approved by University of Otago Human Ethics Committee (reference: 17/188).

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.