Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Multicenter Study
. 2015 Nov 14:15:1126.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2453-3.

Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA): protocol for a multi-centre, longitudinal study

Evi Dons  1   2 , Thomas Götschi  3 , Mark Nieuwenhuijsen  4   5   6 , Audrey de Nazelle  7 , Esther Anaya  8 , Ione Avila-Palencia  9   10   11 , Christian Brand  12 , Tom Cole-Hunter  13   14   15 , Mailin Gaupp-Berghausen  16 , Sonja Kahlmeier  17 , Michelle Laeremans  18   19 , Natalie Mueller  20   21   22 , Juan Pablo Orjuela  23 , Elisabeth Raser  24 , David Rojas-Rueda  25   26   27 , Arnout Standaert  28 , Erik Stigell  29 , Tina Uhlmann  30 , Regine Gerike  31   32 , Luc Int Panis  33   34
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA): protocol for a multi-centre, longitudinal study

Evi Dons et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases, yet many are not sufficiently active. The Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA) study aims to better understand active mobility (walking and cycling for transport solely or in combination with public transport) as an innovative approach to integrate physical activity into individuals' everyday lives. The PASTA study will collect data of multiple cities in a longitudinal cohort design to study correlates of active mobility, its effect on overall physical activity, crash risk and exposure to traffic-related air pollution.

Methods/design: A set of online questionnaires incorporating gold standard approaches from the physical activity and transport fields have been developed, piloted and are now being deployed in a longitudinal study in seven European cities (Antwerp, Barcelona, London, Oerebro, Rome, Vienna, Zurich). In total, 14000 adults are being recruited (2000 in each city). A first questionnaire collects baseline information; follow-up questionnaires sent every 13 days collect prospective data on travel behaviour, levels of physical activity and traffic safety incidents. Self-reported data will be validated with objective data in subsamples using conventional and novel methods. Accelerometers, GPS and tracking apps record routes and activity. Air pollution and physical activity are measured to study their combined effects on health biomarkers. Exposure-adjusted crash risks will be calculated for active modes, and crash location audits are performed to study the role of the built environment. Ethics committees in all seven cities have given independent approval for the study.

Discussion: The PASTA study collects a wealth of subjective and objective data on active mobility and physical activity. This will allow the investigation of numerous correlates of active mobility and physical activity using a data set that advances previous efforts in its richness, geographical coverage and comprehensiveness. Results will inform new health impact assessment models and support efforts to promote and facilitate active mobility in cities.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Modules and tools of the PASTA study. The core module will be implemented in all seven cities on a web-based data collection platform (goal: 2000 respondents per city), whereas the add-on modules (PA, air pollution and health; Route tracking and accelerometry; Crash location audits) will take place in selected cities. These modules aim for 120 or more participants each. FU: Follow-up questionnaire; Crash Q: Crash questionnaire; PA: Physical activity; GPS: Global Positioning System
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Seven cities participating in the PASTA longitudinal study
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Conceptual framework
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Framework of the PASTA longitudinal study design – the figure shows the questionnaire flow for the general sample and for the top measure (TM) affected and control groups. Top measure groups are selected either through a spatial query (polygon) or by a specific response in the baseline questionnaire (BQ)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Lim SS, Vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K, Adair-Rohani H, et al. A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet. 2012;380(9859):2224–2260. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61766-8. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. WHO . Global recommendations on physical activity for health. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2010. p. 58. - PubMed
    1. Lee IM, Shiroma EJ, Lobelo F, Puska P, Blair SN, Katzmarzyk PT. Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: an analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy. Lancet. 2012;380(9838):219–229. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61031-9. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Humphreys DK, Goodman A, Ogilvie D. Associations between active commuting and physical and mental wellbeing. Prev. Med. 2013;57(2):135–139. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.04.008. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Dons E, Panis LI, Van Poppel M, Theunis J, Wets G. Personal exposure to Black Carbon in transport microenvironments. Atmos. Environ. 2012;55:392–398. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.03.020. - DOI

Publication types