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Socio-Ecological Natural Experiment with Randomized Controlled Trial to Promote Active Commuting to Work: Process Evaluation, Behavioral Impacts, and Changes in the Use and Quality of Walking and Cycling Paths

Author

Listed:
  • 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)

  • 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)

  • Tommi Vasankari

    (UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, P.O. Box 30, 33501 Tampere, Finland)

  • Timo Seimelä

    (Department of Transport and Streets, City of Tampere, Frenckellinaukio 2, PL 487, 33101 Tampere, Finland)

  • Pasi Metsäpuro

    (Department of Mobility and Transport, WSP Finland Ltd., Kelloportinkatu 1 D, 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 BS81TZ, UK)

  • Sylvia Titze

    (Institute of Sport Science, University of Graz, Mozartgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria)

Abstract

Active commuting to work (ACW) has beneficial effects on health, traffic, and climate. However, more robust evidence is needed on how to promote ACW. This paper reports the findings of a multilevel natural experiment with a randomized controlled trial in 16 Finnish workplaces. In Phase 1, 11 workplaces (1823 employees) from Area 1 were exposed to environmental improvements in walking and cycling paths. In Phase 2, five more workplaces (826 employees) were recruited from Area 2 and all workplaces were randomized into experimental group (EXP) promoting ACW with social and behavioral strategies and comparison group (COM) participating only in data collection. Process and impact evaluation with questionnaires, travel diaries, accelerometers, traffic calculations, and auditing were conducted. Statistics included Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, Mann-Whitney U -test, and after-before differences with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). After Phase 1, positive change was seen in the self-reported number of days, which the employees intended to cycle part of their journey to work in the following week ( p = 0.001). After Phase 2, intervention effect was observed in the proportion of employees, who reported willingness to increase walking (8.7%; 95% CI 1.8 to 15.6) and cycling (5.5%; 2.2 to 8.8) and opportunity to cycle part of their journey to work (5.9%; 2.1 to 9.7). To conclude, the intervention facilitated employees’ motivation for ACW, which is the first step towards behavior change.

Suggested Citation

  • Minna Aittasalo & Johanna Tiilikainen & Kari Tokola & Jaana Suni & Harri Sievänen & Henri Vähä-Ypyä & Tommi Vasankari & Timo Seimelä & Pasi Metsäpuro & Charlie Foster & Sylvia Titze, 2019. "Socio-Ecological Natural Experiment with Randomized Controlled Trial to Promote Active Commuting to Work: Process Evaluation, Behavioral Impacts, and Changes in the Use and Quality of Walking and Cycl," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:9:p:1661-:d:230676
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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 &, 2017. "Socio-Ecological Intervention to Promote Active Commuting to Work: Protocol and Baseline Findings of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in Finland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Heli Lehtomäki & Antti Korhonen & Arja Asikainen & Niko Karvosenoja & Kaarle Kupiainen & Ville-Veikko Paunu & Mikko Savolahti & Mikhail Sofiev & Yuliia Palamarchuk & Ari Karppinen & Jaakko Kukkonen & , 2018. "Health Impacts of Ambient Air Pollution in Finland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, April.
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