Wave 1 results of the INTerventions, Research, and Action in Cities Team (INTERACT) cohort study: Examining spatio-temporal measures for urban environments and health. (January 2023) - Fuller, Daniel
Abstract: Built environment interventions have the potential to improve population health and reduce health inequities. The objective of this paper is to present the first wave of the INTErventions, Research, and Action in Cities Team (INTERACT) cohort studies in Victoria, Vancouver, Saskatoon, and Montreal, Canada. We examine how our cohorts compared to Canadian census data and present summary data for our outcomes of interest (physical activity, well-being, and social connectedness). We also compare location data and activity spaces from survey data, research-grade GPS and accelerometer devices, and a smartphone app, and compile measures of proximity to select built environment interventions. Highlights: The INTERACT study is evaluating four natural built environment experiments in Canada. Wave 1 results for physical activity, well-being, and social participation are presented. Comparisons between location data collected using two different methods is discussed. Samples recruited are not representative of the population. Methodological advancements are needed analyze data from smartphone apps.