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Access to public mobility services and health in old age : A cross-sectional study in three Swedish cities

Chiatti, Carlos LU ; Westerlund, Yngve and Ståhl, Agneta LU (2017) In Journal of Transport and Health 7(Part B). p.218-226
Abstract

Background: Little evidence is available on how public transport features can impact on older people's health. The overarching aim of this paper is to evaluate socio-demographic, health and mobility-related factors correlated with health-related quality of life among people aged between 75 to 90 years old in three Swedish Municipalities. Methods: Within the SEBEM study, a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered postal questionnaire was conducted among 2398 older people aged between 75 and 90 years. Primary outcome of the study was health-related quality of life measured using the SF12 which distinguishes two dimensions of health, i.e. the Physical Composite Score (PCS) and the Mental Component Score (MCS). Descriptive... (More)

Background: Little evidence is available on how public transport features can impact on older people's health. The overarching aim of this paper is to evaluate socio-demographic, health and mobility-related factors correlated with health-related quality of life among people aged between 75 to 90 years old in three Swedish Municipalities. Methods: Within the SEBEM study, a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered postal questionnaire was conducted among 2398 older people aged between 75 and 90 years. Primary outcome of the study was health-related quality of life measured using the SF12 which distinguishes two dimensions of health, i.e. the Physical Composite Score (PCS) and the Mental Component Score (MCS). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the variability study outcomes. Multilevel regression models were used to investigate factors independently correlated with health, controlling for the influence of potential confounders. Results: Higher physical and mental self-reported health is associated with walking more than 500. m on a daily basis, use of a private car and frequent engagement in social activities. Access to the car is only associated with physical health. Mental health scores are significantly lower among those living far from the closest bus stop and never using public transport. Discussion: We provide evidence of epidemiological associations between access to public mobility services and good health in older age. Given the cross-sectional design of our analyses, and the related limitations, the associations found should be investigated more thoroughly by future studies using longitudinal and/or experimental designs.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Healthy ageing, Mobility services, Public transport
in
Journal of Transport and Health
volume
7
issue
Part B
pages
218 - 226
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85029495982
ISSN
2214-1405
DOI
10.1016/j.jth.2017.09.001
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c4c3e587-e8d4-43ef-ae42-c92d2b60a770
date added to LUP
2017-10-09 11:31:25
date last changed
2023-08-24 12:58:33
@article{c4c3e587-e8d4-43ef-ae42-c92d2b60a770,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Little evidence is available on how public transport features can impact on older people's health. The overarching aim of this paper is to evaluate socio-demographic, health and mobility-related factors correlated with health-related quality of life among people aged between 75 to 90 years old in three Swedish Municipalities. Methods: Within the SEBEM study, a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered postal questionnaire was conducted among 2398 older people aged between 75 and 90 years. Primary outcome of the study was health-related quality of life measured using the SF12 which distinguishes two dimensions of health, i.e. the Physical Composite Score (PCS) and the Mental Component Score (MCS). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the variability study outcomes. Multilevel regression models were used to investigate factors independently correlated with health, controlling for the influence of potential confounders. Results: Higher physical and mental self-reported health is associated with walking more than 500. m on a daily basis, use of a private car and frequent engagement in social activities. Access to the car is only associated with physical health. Mental health scores are significantly lower among those living far from the closest bus stop and never using public transport. Discussion: We provide evidence of epidemiological associations between access to public mobility services and good health in older age. Given the cross-sectional design of our analyses, and the related limitations, the associations found should be investigated more thoroughly by future studies using longitudinal and/or experimental designs.</p>}},
  author       = {{Chiatti, Carlos and Westerlund, Yngve and Ståhl, Agneta}},
  issn         = {{2214-1405}},
  keywords     = {{Healthy ageing; Mobility services; Public transport}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{Part B}},
  pages        = {{218--226}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Transport and Health}},
  title        = {{Access to public mobility services and health in old age : A cross-sectional study in three Swedish cities}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2017.09.001}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jth.2017.09.001}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}