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IMPACT OF AGE ON ACTIVE TRANSPORT HABITS IN URBAN
RESIDENTS IN SLOVENIA
Ajda Jelenc, National Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia
Authors: Janet Klara Djomba, Ajda Jelenc, Zlatko Fras, Lijana Zaletel Kragelj
Background
• Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for chronic diseases (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer,…) in developed countries.
• Active transport, e.g. walking or cycling, offers an example of how to include PA into physically active lifestyle.
Older adults and active transport
• In later adulthood people may become less mobile and less able to take part in active transport.
• It is important to understand the barriers so that we can develop strategies and design effective interventions to help older adults meet both their exercise and mobility needs.
Objectives
• To assure that health promotion and transport planning activities are suitable for these needs, we need information on how transport patterns change with increasing age.
• In our study we examined whether active transport habits of urban residents depend on age.
Methods
• We used the data from the national health behaviour survey in the year 2008.
• The sample size was 15.963, the overall response rate 49%.
• Among 7.352 questionnaires eligible for analysis 1.440 were urban residents who were employed or students.
Analysed questions
• Physical activity on the way to work/study place an back home:
• Cycling: usual number of days within working week (possible answer: 0-5 days)
• Walking: usual number of days within working week (possible answer: 0-5 days)
Results
Percentage of employees/students cycling to work/study place
56,5
7,64,7
9,5
2,7
19,0
,0
10,0
20,0
30,0
40,0
50,0
60,0
number of workdays
%
0 1 2 3 4 5
Percentage of employees/students walking to work/study place
26,3
4,47,7 7,0
1,9
52,7
,0
10,0
20,0
30,0
40,0
50,0
60,0
number of workdays
%
0 1 2 3 4 5
Percentage of employees/students cycling to work/study place in different age groups
,0%
10,0%
20,0%
30,0%
40,0%
50,0%
60,0%
70,0%
25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69
age group
0 1day 2 days 3 days 4 days 5 days
Percentage of employees/students walking to work/study place in different age groups
,0%
10,0%
20,0%
30,0%
40,0%
50,0%
60,0%
70,0%
80,0%
25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69age group
0 1 day 2 days 3 days 4 days 5 days
Conclusions
• Our results show that older age groups cycle or walk to work more often than younger people and that walking is more frequent than cycling.
• This could indicate that older adults are more aware of the importance of physically active lifestyle and we can expect that they will continue cycling and walking after retirement.
• We need to assure an infrastructure which allows safe walking and cycling for elderly, especially in bigger cities with heavy traffic.
• Traffic education is very important in all age groups: for younger to adopt safe and patient traffic behaviour and for older to keep them fit for traffic.
What are we doing in Slovenia in this field?
The problem is….
• Fear and doubt in person’s own traffic skills are the main barriers for choosing cycling as a mode of transport or leisure time PA.
• The only cycle training courses are offered for pupils in elementary schools.
• Sufficient cycling skills and knowledge about traffic are crucial for safe cycling, especially in older adults.
Safety cycle training for adults
We have developed a unique cycling training course for adults, which includes lessons about:
• traffic safety, • bike maintenance and • first aid
and practical training in real traffic situation.
The training is a part of our activities for employees and seniors within the EU
project LIFE CYCLE.
Thank you for your attention …
and keep on cycling!
Contact address: Janet Klara Djomba, MD, teaching assistant
E-mail: [email protected]
