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: janet-klara.djomba@mf.uni-lj.si