142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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An Exploration of School Environment Characteristics and Policies to Support Active Transportation to School

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Kathryn Drazba, M.P.H. , Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Stephanie Broyles, Ph.D. , Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Kara Dentro, MPH , Population Science, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Catrine Tudor-Locke, PhD , Walking Behavior, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Peter Katzmarzyk, Ph.D. , Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Background  Research suggests that schools’ built and policy environments may facilitate students’ active transportation (AT) to/from school. It is important to understand current levels of environmental and policy support to identify features worth targeting for change.

Methods  Students (n=651, mean age=9.5 y) from 21 schools in Baton Rouge, LA, participated in the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE). The school built environment was assessed via direct observation by a trained data collector. The presence of school policies supporting AT was collected via a survey completed by school staff. Descriptive analysis evaluated the frequencies of school physical features and policies.

Results  The most common built environment features were road safety signs (100%), sidewalks (81%) and crosswalks (76%). Less common features included an entrance designed for a pedestrian or cyclist (67%) and bike racks in a secure location (48%). The least common features were traffic-calming measures (10%) and cycle lanes (5%). Most schools identified safe routes for AT (71%). Slightly more than half of the schools (57%) provided crossing guards, designated “car free zones,” allowed bikes on school property, or encouraged using safety gear during AT. However, few schools reported organized AT-promoting programs (19%).

Discussion  Although the schools in this study did have supportive built environment features and policies, there was substantial room for improvement. Future interventions seeking to increase AT may need to consider changing the built environment and enacting policies that facilitate AT to/from school.

Learning Areas:

Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Identify existing supportive features and policies of the school environment for active transportation. List common versus uncommon features and policies observed in schools. Discuss school physical features and policies that may promote active transportation.

Keyword(s): Physical Activity, Built Environment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-investigator on several research studies looking at environmental influences on health behaviors.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3312.0: Active Living in Neighborhoods and Communities