title: Feasibility and effectiveness of drop-off spots to promote walking to school.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drop-off spots are locations in the proximity of primary schools where parents can drop off or pick up their child. From these drop-off spots children can walk to and from school. This pilot study aimed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of drop-off spots and to evaluate how drop-off spots are perceived by school principals, teachers and parents of 6-to-12-year old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, a feasibility questionnaire was completed (n = 216) to obtain parental opinions towards the implementation of drop-off spots. A drop-off spot was organized (500-800 m distance from school) in two primary schools. A within-subject design was used to compare children's (n = 58) step counts and number of walking trips during usual conditions (baseline) and during implementation of a drop-off spot (intervention). Three-level (class-participant-condition) linear regression models were used to determine intervention effects. After the intervention, 2 school principals, 7 teachers and 44 parents filled out a process evaluation questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior to the intervention, 96% expressed the need for adult supervision during the route to school. Positive significant intervention effects were found for step counts before/after school hours (+732 step counts/day; X2 = 12.2; p < 0.001) and number of walking trips to/from school (+2 trips/week; X2 = 52.9; p < 0.001). No intervention effect was found for total step counts/day (X2 = 2.0; p = 0.16). The intervention was positively perceived by the school principals and parents, but teachers expressed doubts regarding future implementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study showed that implementing drop-off spots might be an effective intervention to promote children's walking to school. Implementing drop-off spots does not require major efforts from the schools and schools can choose how and when they organize drop-off spots. However, motivating teachers and involving other volunteers (e.g. parents, grandparents) may be needed. Future studies should investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of drop-off spots in a larger sample of schools.
authors.forename: Griet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vanwolleghem
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Haese
authors.forename: Delfien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Dyck
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Bourdeaudhuij
authors.forename: Greet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardon
mesh_terms: D001642:Bicycling; D002648:Child; D005178:Faculty; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010290:Parents; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation; D016138:Walking