Socio-Ecological Intervention to Promote Active Commuting to Work: Protocol and Baseline Findings of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in Finland

Minna Aittasalo, Johanna Tiilikainen, Kari Tokola, Timo Seimelä, Satu-Maaria Sarjala, Pasi Metsäpuro, Ari Hynynen, Jaana Suni, Harri Sievänen, Henri Vähä-Ypyä, Kalle Vaismaa, Olli Vakkala, Charlie Foster, Sylvia Titze and Tommi Vasankari
Additional contact information
Minna Aittasalo: UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, P.O. Box 30, 33501 Tampere, Finland
Johanna Tiilikainen: UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, P.O. Box 30, 33501 Tampere, Finland
Kari Tokola: UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, P.O. Box 30, 33501 Tampere, Finland
Timo Seimelä: Department of Transport and Streets, City of Tampere, P.O. Box 487, 33101 Tampere, Finland
Satu-Maaria Sarjala: School of Architecture, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 600, 33101 Tampere, Finland
Pasi Metsäpuro: WSP Finland Ltd., Kelloportinkatu 1 D, 33100 Tampere, Finland
Ari Hynynen: School of Architecture, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 600, 33101 Tampere, Finland
Jaana Suni: UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, P.O. Box 30, 33501 Tampere, Finland
Harri Sievänen: UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, P.O. Box 30, 33501 Tampere, Finland
Henri Vähä-Ypyä: UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, P.O. Box 30, 33501 Tampere, Finland
Kalle Vaismaa: WSP Finland Ltd., Kelloportinkatu 1 D, 33100 Tampere, Finland
Olli Vakkala: Ecofellows Ltd., Valssipadonraitti 3, 33100 Tampere, Finland
Charlie Foster: Centre for Exercise Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TZ, UK
Sylvia Titze: Institute of Sport Science, University of Graz, Mozartgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria
Tommi Vasankari: UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, P.O. Box 30, 33501 Tampere, Finland

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: Active commuting to work (ACW) is beneficial to traffic, environment and population health. More evidence is needed on effective ways to promote ACW. This paper describes the protocol and baseline findings of a cluster-randomized controlled study, which aims to promote ACW with multilevel strategies in two large workplace areas in Tampere, Finland. In Phase 1, the impacts of environmental strategies (trail improvements) were evaluated in 11 workplaces within Area 1. In Phase 2, five more workplaces were recruited from Area 2 to evaluate the impacts of social and behavioral strategies customized for each workplace. For this purpose, the workplaces in both areas were randomly assigned into experimental group (EXP, n = 6 + 2), which promoted ACW with social and behavioral strategies or into comparison group (COM, n = 5 + 3), which participated in the data collection only. The primary indicator in both phases is the change in employees’ ACW. Secondary indicators are e.g., changes in employees’ self-rated health, wellbeing at work, restrictions to and motivation for ACW, adverse effects due to ACW and the use and quality of the main walking and cycling trails. Also process, efficiency and environmental evaluation is included. The study is the first one in Finland to combine interdisciplinary collaboration between practitioners and researchers working in the fields of transportation, urban design, physical activity and sustainable development to promote ACW. The findings benefit all stakeholders interested in promoting ACW in urban context.

Keywords: walking; cycling; workplace; health promotion; environment; multilevel; intervention; protocol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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