title: Built environment attributes related to GPS measured active trips in mid-life and older adults with mobility disabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding factors which may promote walking in mid-life and older adults with mobility impairments is key given the association between physical activity and positive health outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between active trips and objective measures of the home neighborhood built environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Global positioning systems (GPS) data collected on 28 adults age 50+ with mobility disabilities were analyzed for active trips from home. Objective and geographic information systems (GIS) derived measures included Walk Score, population density, street connectivity, crime rates, and slope within the home neighborhood. For this cross-sectional observational study, we conducted mean comparisons between participants who took active trips from home and those who did not for the objective measures. Effect sizes were calculated to assess the magnitude of group differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine participants (32%) took active trips from home. Walking in the home neighborhood was significantly associated with GIS derived measures (Walk Score, population density, and street density; effect sizes 0.9-1.2). Participants who used the home neighborhood for active trips had less slope within 1 km of home but the difference was not significant (73.5 m ± 22 vs. 100.8 m ± 38.1, p = 0.06, d = 0.8). There were no statistically significant differences in mean scores for crime rates between those with active trips from home and those without.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings provide preliminary evidence that more walkable environments promote active mobility among mid-life and older adults with mobility disabilities. The data suggest that this population can and does use active transportation modes when the built environment is supportive.
authors: Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: ngell@uvm.edu.
authors: Nancy M
authors: NM
authors: Gell
authors: Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Dori E
authors: DE
authors: Rosenberg
authors: Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Jordan
authors: J
authors: Carlson
authors: Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Center for Wireless & Population Health Systems, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Kerr
authors: Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Basia
authors: B
authors: Belza
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003415:Crime; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011156:Population Density; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014186:Transportation; D016138:Walking
keywords: Active trips; Built environment; GPS; Mid-life and older adults; Mobility impairment
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