title: An in-depth pilot study on patterns, destinations, and purposes of walking in Hong Kong older adults.
abstract: Walking is a suitable activity for older adults and has physical and mental health benefits. To devise interventions that impact levels of walking it is necessary to first understand the purposes for which people walk and the destinations to which they walk. Using a 7-day diary and accelerometry, this study investigated destinations and purposes of walking in older adult residents of an ultra-dense Asian city. Participants reported an average of 17.1 walking trips per week and total weekly accelerometer/diary determined trip walking time averaged 735 min per week; much higher than reported for older adults in non-Asian settings. The most common destinations were within the neighborhood: parks and streets for recreation walking and shops and eating places for transport-related walking. Errands and eating were the most common purposes for transportation trips. The study results can help inform urban design to encourage walking.
authors.affiliation: School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cerin
authors.forename: Man-chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Wai-man
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011998:Recreation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology*