From Cars to Bikes - the Feasibility and Effect of Bicycling for Transportation Among Parents of Toddlers

NCT ID: NCT03131518

Last Updated: 2018-06-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

36 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-06-02

Study Completion Date

2018-06-25

Brief Summary

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There is a need for a greater understanding of e-bikes and their role in the transportation network, and further effects on physical activity (PA) levels and health. Moreover, longtail bikes could meet certain practical needs not sufficiently fulfilled by e-bikes or traditional bikes, hence increased knowledge regarding their potential and feasibility should be obtained. No intervention study has investigated whether providing an e-bike or a longtail bike over an extended period in a sample of inactive parents of toddlers influence objectively assessed amount of cycling, total PA level, potential mode shifts, and effect on cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition and blood pressure.

Objectives:

To assess the effect of an intervention where participants have access to an e-bike (including a trailer), a longtail bike and a traditional bike (including a trailer) on the following parameters:

1. Objectively assessed amount of biking, total levels of PA, and mode shifts from car/motorized modes to bicycle.
2. Cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, body composition, self-reported health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
3. Experiences with bicycling (el/longtail/traditional) and intrinsic motivation for bicycling.
4. How season and weather conditions influence the amount of bicycling (el/longtail/traditional).

Study sample:

A convenience sample consisting of 36 inactive parents of toddlers will be recruited among residents in Kristiansand municipality, Southern Norway.

Measures:

The following measures will be conducted:

1. A web-based questionnaire will assess socio-demographics (at baseline only), transportation habits, self-perceived health and HRQoL, and motivation for bicycling for transportation. For the intervention group: at baseline and post all intervention arms, i.e. four times. For the control group: at baseline and after 9 months, i.e. two times.
2. Cycling time and distance will be assessed through usage of a cycle computer throughout the entire project period, in total nine months.
3. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) will be estimated with the monitor SenseWear Armband Mini (SWA) for seven consecutive days at study start and after 9 months (post-intervention).
4. Cardiorespiratory fitness will be measured performing treadmill walking/running, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) will be used for assessing body composition. In addition, blood pressure, body weight and height (height only at baseline) will be measured at baseline and after 9 months (post-intervention).
5. Participants' experiences with and motivation for usage of the different bicycle types will be explored in semi-structured focus group interviews after 3 months, 6 months and 9 months.
6. Weather data (temperature, rainfall, snow, etc.) will also be collected.

Scientific contribution:

The present study will add knowledge to relevant and topical areas, i.e. issues related to public health and environmental sustainability, among parents of toddlers, representing an important target group.There is a call for research on the influence of e-bikes on travel behavior and level of MVPA, and whether voluntary cycling with e-bikes could improve health. Moreover, to our knowledge no scientific studies have assessed possible effects of using a longtail bike, on the selected parameters. If the current study reveals promising results, it should be replicated in a larger and more representative sample of parents of toddlers, as well as in other important target groups (e.g. older adults). If findings are positive, inclusion in national public health policies should be considered.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Bicycling Distance Bicycling Time Physical Activity Level Cardiorespratory Fitness Body Composition

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

All participants in the intervention group (n=18) will complete the following intervention arms in random order: (i) 3 months access to an e-bicycle with trailer (n=6), (ii) 3 months access to a longtail bicycle (n=6), and (iii) 3 months access to a regular bicycle with trailer (n=6), in total 9 months. Also, a control group (n=18) maintaining usual transportation and PA habits will be included.
Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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E-bicycle

Access to an e-bicycle will be provided.

Group Type OTHER

Access to an e-bicycle with trailer

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be provided with an e-bike with trailer for 3 months.

Longtail bicycle

Access to a longtail bicycle will be provided.

Group Type OTHER

Access to a longtail bicycle

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be provided with a longtail bike for 3 months.

Traditional bicycle

Access to a traditional bicycle will be provided.

Group Type OTHER

Access to a traditional bike with trailer

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be provided with a traditional bicycle with trailer for 3 months.

Interventions

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Access to an e-bicycle with trailer

Participants will be provided with an e-bike with trailer for 3 months.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Access to a longtail bicycle

Participants will be provided with a longtail bike for 3 months.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Access to a traditional bike with trailer

Participants will be provided with a traditional bicycle with trailer for 3 months.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* being able to understand and read Norwegian
* having one child born in 2013, 2014 or 2015 attending kindergarten
* being responsible for bringing/picking up the "study child" in the kindergarten ≥5 times per week/at least half of the times
* residing 2-10 km from the workplace
* residing \<3 km from the kindergarten and the grocery shop
* having car-access
* possessing a smartphone
* being between 167-190 cm tall (due to the size of accessible bicycles)
* having the opportunity to store the bicycles indoors

Exclusion Criteria

* having bicycled more than once weekly during the last 12 months to either the workplace, the kindergarten, or the grocery shop.
* suffering from severe cardiovascular diseases or upper respiratory tract diseases.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

67 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Stiftelsen Helse og Rehabilitering

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The National Association for Public Health, Norway

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Agder

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Helga Birgit Bjørnarå

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Elling Bere, Prof.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Agder

Locations

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University of Agder

Kristiansand, , Norway

Site Status

Countries

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Norway

References

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Bjornara HB, Berntsen S, Te Velde SJ, Fegran L, Fyhri A, Deforche B, Andersen LB, Bere E. From cars to bikes - the feasibility and effect of using e-bikes, longtail bikes and traditional bikes for transportation among parents of children attending kindergarten: design of a randomized cross-over trial. BMC Public Health. 2017 Dec 28;17(1):981. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4995-z.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 29282108 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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1320 98842

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id