Evaluating the Impact of Improvements in Urban Green Space on Older Adults' Physical Activity and Wellbeing: a Natural Experimental Study

NCT ID: NCT03575923

Last Updated: 2020-03-24

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

Total Enrollment

1200 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-09-04

Study Completion Date

2018-09-21

Brief Summary

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Background: Creating or improving urban green space has the potential to be an effective and sustainable way to increase physical activity and improve other aspects of wellbeing in older adults. However, the size and quality of the existing evidence base is weak. There is particularly a lack of studies on older adults and in the United Kingdom. This study aims to evaluate the effect of four small local street greening intervention projects on older adults' physical activity and wellbeing over a one-year period. The street greening includes tree and flower planting, and artificial tree decorations. These projects are based in a deprived urban neighbourhood in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.

Methods: Eight unimproved comparison sites were selected to compare with the intervention sites. The researchers will measure physical activity and two other behavioural indicators of wellbeing (Connect: connecting with other people; and Take Notice: taking notice of the environment) using a newly developed observation tool. It is thought that the largest effect of the interventions will be on Take Notice behaviour due to improvements in the aesthetic quality of green space at the intervention sites. Baseline data collection occurred in September 2017 before the interventions were installed in November 2017. Follow-up data collection will be repeated in February/ March 2018 (6 months) and September 2018 (12 months).

Discussion: The present study offers a rare opportunity to evaluate the before-and-after effects of small-scale changes in urban green space, in an understudied population (older adults) and setting (United Kingdom). Although the interventions are expected to have small effects on peoples' behaviour, this study will address key weaknesses in previous studies.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Physical Activity and Wellbeing

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

OTHER

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Intervention site 1

2 planted trees; bulb planting

Urban street greening

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The interventions are located on four publicly accessible sites; the total size of the floor area of green space in each of the intervention sites is small, ranging from 0.09 to 0.35 acres. Components of the interventions include tree and flower planting (expected to bloom by March 2018) and artificial tree decorations such as strings of small electric lights and tree socks (the interventions are hereafter collectively referred to as urban street greening). The total cost for all components across all four intervention sites is approximately £6,000, although this excludes artist fees connected to the project. All components of the interventions were implemented within a one week period in November 2017 by two arborists, two local artists, staff members at Southway Housing Trust, and local community members from Old Moat and a local school.

Comparison site 1A

No interventions assigned to this group

Comparison site 1B

No interventions assigned to this group

Intervention site 2

12 planted trees; bulb planting; artificial tree decorations (string lights)

Urban street greening

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The interventions are located on four publicly accessible sites; the total size of the floor area of green space in each of the intervention sites is small, ranging from 0.09 to 0.35 acres. Components of the interventions include tree and flower planting (expected to bloom by March 2018) and artificial tree decorations such as strings of small electric lights and tree socks (the interventions are hereafter collectively referred to as urban street greening). The total cost for all components across all four intervention sites is approximately £6,000, although this excludes artist fees connected to the project. All components of the interventions were implemented within a one week period in November 2017 by two arborists, two local artists, staff members at Southway Housing Trust, and local community members from Old Moat and a local school.

Comparison site 2A

No interventions assigned to this group

Comparison site 2B

No interventions assigned to this group

Intervention site 3

3 planted trees; artificial tree decorations (string lights, tree socks)

Urban street greening

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The interventions are located on four publicly accessible sites; the total size of the floor area of green space in each of the intervention sites is small, ranging from 0.09 to 0.35 acres. Components of the interventions include tree and flower planting (expected to bloom by March 2018) and artificial tree decorations such as strings of small electric lights and tree socks (the interventions are hereafter collectively referred to as urban street greening). The total cost for all components across all four intervention sites is approximately £6,000, although this excludes artist fees connected to the project. All components of the interventions were implemented within a one week period in November 2017 by two arborists, two local artists, staff members at Southway Housing Trust, and local community members from Old Moat and a local school.

Comparison site 3A

No interventions assigned to this group

Comparison site 3B

No interventions assigned to this group

Intervention site 4

8 planted trees; bulb planting; artificial tree decorations (string lights, tree socks)

Urban street greening

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The interventions are located on four publicly accessible sites; the total size of the floor area of green space in each of the intervention sites is small, ranging from 0.09 to 0.35 acres. Components of the interventions include tree and flower planting (expected to bloom by March 2018) and artificial tree decorations such as strings of small electric lights and tree socks (the interventions are hereafter collectively referred to as urban street greening). The total cost for all components across all four intervention sites is approximately £6,000, although this excludes artist fees connected to the project. All components of the interventions were implemented within a one week period in November 2017 by two arborists, two local artists, staff members at Southway Housing Trust, and local community members from Old Moat and a local school.

Comparison site 4A

No interventions assigned to this group

Comparison site 4B

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Urban street greening

The interventions are located on four publicly accessible sites; the total size of the floor area of green space in each of the intervention sites is small, ranging from 0.09 to 0.35 acres. Components of the interventions include tree and flower planting (expected to bloom by March 2018) and artificial tree decorations such as strings of small electric lights and tree socks (the interventions are hereafter collectively referred to as urban street greening). The total cost for all components across all four intervention sites is approximately £6,000, although this excludes artist fees connected to the project. All components of the interventions were implemented within a one week period in November 2017 by two arborists, two local artists, staff members at Southway Housing Trust, and local community members from Old Moat and a local school.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

° All individuals (infants, children, teens, adults, older adults) entering the target area during observation periods

Exclusion Criteria

° Any individuals that request their data to be removed from the study
Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Manchester

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Jack Benton

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Greater Manchester

Multiple Locations, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

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United Kingdom

References

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Benton JS, Anderson J, Cotterill S, Dennis M, Lindley SJ, French DP. Evaluating the impact of improvements in urban green space on older adults' physical activity and wellbeing: protocol for a natural experimental study. BMC Public Health. 2018 Jul 27;18(1):923. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5812-z.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 30053861 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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NE/N013530/1

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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