Objective: To determine the costs and cost-effectiveness of an early childhood home visiting prog... more Objective: To determine the costs and cost-effectiveness of an early childhood home visiting program delivered to families in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Sydney, Australia during 2007-2010. Methods: Economic evaluation of a randomized controlled trial, the healthy beginnings (HB) trial, from the perspective of the health funder. Intervention resources were determined from local health district records in 2012 $AUD. Health-care resource utilization was determined through patient-level data linkage.
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2015
Given increasing investment in new cycling infrastructure, it is important to understand its impa... more Given increasing investment in new cycling infrastructure, it is important to understand its impacts. The Sydney Transport and Health Study evaluates a new 2.4 km bi-directional separated bicycle path in inner-Sydney. This paper describes the users of the new bicycle path, and examines its short-term impacts upon cycling behaviour and perceptions of the local environment. Data were collected from two bike counts at two intersections on the new bicycle path in the intervention area in 2013 and 2014. On-line surveys collected individual participant data in the intervention area and a similar comparison area before the bicycle path was built (2013), and 12 months later (four months after completion) (n = 512). The data included self-reported cycling behaviour, use of the new bicycle path and perceptions of changes in the local environment. Bike counts at two sites on the new bicycle path reported an increase of 23 % and 97 % respectively at 12 months. However, among the participants in...
Likert scales are frequently used in public health research, but are subject to scale perception ... more Likert scales are frequently used in public health research, but are subject to scale perception bias. This study sought to explore scale perception bias in quality-of-life (QoL) self-assessment and assess its relationships with commuting mode in the Sydney Travel and Health Study. Multilevel ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association between two global QoL items about overall QoL and health satisfaction, with usual travel mode to work or study. Anchoring vignettes were applied using parametric and simpler nonparametric methods to detect and adjust for differences in reporting behaviour across age, sex, education, and income groups. The anchoring vignettes exposed differences in scale responses across demographic groups. After adjusting for these biases, public transport users (OR = 0.37, 95 % CI 0.21-0.65), walkers (OR = 0.44, 95 % CI 0.24-0.82), and motor vehicle users (OR = 0.47, 95 % CI 0.25-0.86) were all found to have lower odds of reporting high QoL compared with bicycle commuters. Similarly, the odds of reporting high health satisfaction were found to be proportionally lower amongst all competing travel modes: motor vehicle users (OR = 0.31, 95 % CI 0.18-0.56), public transport users (OR = 0.34, 95 % CI 0.20-0.57), and walkers (OR = 0.35, 95 % CI 0.20-0.64) when compared with cyclists. Fewer differences were observed in the unadjusted models. Application of the vignettes by the two approaches removed scaling biases, thereby improving the accuracy of the analyses of the associations between travel mode and quality of life. The adjusted results revealed higher quality of life in bicycle commuters compared with all other travel mode users.
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues.
Background: There are repeated calls to build better cycling paths in Australian cities if the pr... more Background: There are repeated calls to build better cycling paths in Australian cities if the proportion of people cycling is to increase. Yet the full range of transport, health, environmental and economic impacts of new cycling infrastructure and the extent to which observed changes are sustained is not well understood. The City of Sydney is currently building a new bicycle network, which includes a new bicycle path separated from road traffic in the south Sydney area. This protocol paper describes a comprehensive method to evaluate this new cycling infrastructure.
Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, Jan 10, 2015
Issue addressed: Travel satisfaction has become an increasingly popular construct for the assessm... more Issue addressed: Travel satisfaction has become an increasingly popular construct for the assessment and monitoring of transport systems and services. However, satisfaction may not adequately assess emotion or mood towards walking and cycling, especially when infrastructure is biased towards motor vehicle modes. In this exploratory study we sought to examine the associations of both satisfaction with transport and enjoyment from the commute to work or study by commute mode in an Australian inner city context where transport mode choices are readily available.Methods: As part of the Sydney Transport and Health Study, 675 baseline study participants (2013) were invited to complete an online questionnaire in September/October 2014 and 512 did so (76% response rate). Participants who did not travel to work were removed from analyses, giving complete data for 473. Participants provided data on usual travel mode to work or study, satisfaction with transport, enjoyment from their commute, ...
Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 2014
This study examined the association between domains of quality of life (QoL) and the frequency of... more This study examined the association between domains of quality of life (QoL) and the frequency of cycling by men and women. A cross-sectional survey of 846 healthy adults in Sydney, Australia measured cycling behaviour and self-reported QoL. Participants were aged 18-55 years and were living within 5km of the centre. Cycling frequency for all purposes was recorded as weekly, less than weekly or never cycling. QoL was measured using the four QoL domains of the WHOQOL-BREF: physical psychological, social and environment. Linear regression was used to assess the association between cycling and QoL. Among men, at least weekly cycling was associated with physical QoL (P=0.002) and any cycling was positively associated with psychological wellbeing (at least weekly P=0.01, less than weekly P=0.01) after adjusting for age, education and income. No significant associations were observed for women. Frequent cycling was associated with higher physical and psychological QoL in men, but not amon...
Likert scales are frequently used in public health research, but are subject to scale perception ... more Likert scales are frequently used in public health research, but are subject to scale perception bias. This study sought to explore scale perception bias in quality-of-life (QoL) self-assessment and assess its relationships with commuting mode in the Sydney Travel and Health Study. Multilevel ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association between two global QoL items about overall QoL and health satisfaction, with usual travel mode to work or study. Anchoring vignettes were applied using parametric and simpler nonparametric methods to detect and adjust for differences in reporting behaviour across age, sex, education, and income groups. The anchoring vignettes exposed differences in scale responses across demographic groups. After adjusting for these biases, public transport users (OR = 0.37, 95 % CI 0.21-0.65), walkers (OR = 0.44, 95 % CI 0.24-0.82), and motor vehicle users (OR = 0.47, 95 % CI 0.25-0.86) were all found to have lower odds of reporting high QoL compared with bicycle commuters. Similarly, the odds of reporting high health satisfaction were found to be proportionally lower amongst all competing travel modes: motor vehicle users (OR = 0.31, 95 % CI 0.18-0.56), public transport users (OR = 0.34, 95 % CI 0.20-0.57), and walkers (OR = 0.35, 95 % CI 0.20-0.64) when compared with cyclists. Fewer differences were observed in the unadjusted models. Application of the vignettes by the two approaches removed scaling biases, thereby improving the accuracy of the analyses of the associations between travel mode and quality of life. The adjusted results revealed higher quality of life in bicycle commuters compared with all other travel mode users.
MEROM, D., K. DELBAERE, R. CUMMING, A. VOUKELATOS, C. RISSEL, H. P. VAN DER PLOEG, and S. R. LORD... more MEROM, D., K. DELBAERE, R. CUMMING, A. VOUKELATOS, C. RISSEL, H. P. VAN DER PLOEG, and S. R. LORD. Incidental and Planned Exercise Questionnaire for Seniors: Validity and Responsiveness. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 46, No. 5, pp. 947-954, 2014. Purpose: This study assessed the criterion validity and responsiveness of the Incidental and Planned Exercise Questionnaire (IPEQ) specifically developed for aging research. Methods: The sample comprised 315 community-dwelling inactive older adults (mean age = 73.2 yr) who participated in a trial investigating the effect of a walking program on falls. At baseline, a subsample (n = 177) also wore an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT1M) for 7 d, and 126 of those had four valid days or more of accelerometer data. Validity coefficients (Spearman Q) were calculated between accelerometer counts per minute, average steps per day, average moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) using two cut points (760 and 1041 counts per minute), and IPEQ-MVPA (the sum of physical activity hours per week derived from nine IPEQ items excluding the indoor chores question). Responsiveness was the mean IPEQ change in the intervention group divided by the SD of the mean change in control group. Results: The correlation coefficients between IPEQ-MVPA and counts per minute per day and steps per day were 0.33 and 0.31, respectively. The coefficients with accelerometer MVPA at low and medium cut points were 0.29 and 0.33, respectively, and 0.26 and 0.35 for walking. The Bland-Altman plot showed increased errors with higher values of IPEQ-MVPA. IPEQ incidental physical activity questions and IPEQ as a whole were significantly correlated with accelerometer light intensity (100-760 counts per minute, Q = 0.29 and 0.23). The 12-month responsiveness of total IPEQ was 0.30 and 0.44 for the ''planned walking'' item. Conclusions: IPEQ provides a practical and valid measure of MVPA in surveillance and intervention studies. Incidental activities are mostly of a light-intensity nature, and their low ambulatory component may explain the lower correlation between IPEQ as a whole and accelerometer measures. a MVPA = planned exercise, walking for exercise, walking for errands, and outdoor chores. b MV = moderate-to-vigorous intensity.
Health Promotion Journal of Australia Official Journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 2004
International studies have consistently found that exposure to air pollutants is higher inside ca... more International studies have consistently found that exposure to air pollutants is higher inside cars than outside. However, few studies have compared personal exposure to air pollutants by travel mode focusing on usual travel patterns.
Regular active commuting by walking/cycling can help maintain an active lifestyle. The frequency,... more Regular active commuting by walking/cycling can help maintain an active lifestyle. The frequency, duration and correlates of school active commuting were examined for primary school children in NSW, Australia. Walking/cyclingonly and in combination with bus/car were of short duration (median 7 or 4 min, respectively) and their frequency dropped within a short distance (40.75 km) from school. Apart from distance, child's age, school affiliation and perceived safety, regular walking/cycling (10 trips, 22%) was associated with parents' travel mode to work and with father taking the child to school. Frequent walking/cycling (X5 trips, 37%) was associated with child's level of independence and the perceived benefits of active commuting. Behaviour change in this setting requires multi-level strategies. r
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2009
Background: Time spent outdoors is positively associated with physical activity and has been sugg... more Background: Time spent outdoors is positively associated with physical activity and has been suggested as a proxy for physical activity of children. The role of children's independence in physical activity and time spent outdoors is less understood. This study aimed to assess how much time children spent playing outdoors after school, and to explore the relationship between outdoor play and independence among children aged 10-12 years.
Objective: To determine the costs and cost-effectiveness of an early childhood home visiting prog... more Objective: To determine the costs and cost-effectiveness of an early childhood home visiting program delivered to families in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Sydney, Australia during 2007-2010. Methods: Economic evaluation of a randomized controlled trial, the healthy beginnings (HB) trial, from the perspective of the health funder. Intervention resources were determined from local health district records in 2012 $AUD. Health-care resource utilization was determined through patient-level data linkage.
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2015
Given increasing investment in new cycling infrastructure, it is important to understand its impa... more Given increasing investment in new cycling infrastructure, it is important to understand its impacts. The Sydney Transport and Health Study evaluates a new 2.4 km bi-directional separated bicycle path in inner-Sydney. This paper describes the users of the new bicycle path, and examines its short-term impacts upon cycling behaviour and perceptions of the local environment. Data were collected from two bike counts at two intersections on the new bicycle path in the intervention area in 2013 and 2014. On-line surveys collected individual participant data in the intervention area and a similar comparison area before the bicycle path was built (2013), and 12 months later (four months after completion) (n = 512). The data included self-reported cycling behaviour, use of the new bicycle path and perceptions of changes in the local environment. Bike counts at two sites on the new bicycle path reported an increase of 23 % and 97 % respectively at 12 months. However, among the participants in...
Likert scales are frequently used in public health research, but are subject to scale perception ... more Likert scales are frequently used in public health research, but are subject to scale perception bias. This study sought to explore scale perception bias in quality-of-life (QoL) self-assessment and assess its relationships with commuting mode in the Sydney Travel and Health Study. Multilevel ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association between two global QoL items about overall QoL and health satisfaction, with usual travel mode to work or study. Anchoring vignettes were applied using parametric and simpler nonparametric methods to detect and adjust for differences in reporting behaviour across age, sex, education, and income groups. The anchoring vignettes exposed differences in scale responses across demographic groups. After adjusting for these biases, public transport users (OR = 0.37, 95 % CI 0.21-0.65), walkers (OR = 0.44, 95 % CI 0.24-0.82), and motor vehicle users (OR = 0.47, 95 % CI 0.25-0.86) were all found to have lower odds of reporting high QoL compared with bicycle commuters. Similarly, the odds of reporting high health satisfaction were found to be proportionally lower amongst all competing travel modes: motor vehicle users (OR = 0.31, 95 % CI 0.18-0.56), public transport users (OR = 0.34, 95 % CI 0.20-0.57), and walkers (OR = 0.35, 95 % CI 0.20-0.64) when compared with cyclists. Fewer differences were observed in the unadjusted models. Application of the vignettes by the two approaches removed scaling biases, thereby improving the accuracy of the analyses of the associations between travel mode and quality of life. The adjusted results revealed higher quality of life in bicycle commuters compared with all other travel mode users.
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues.
Background: There are repeated calls to build better cycling paths in Australian cities if the pr... more Background: There are repeated calls to build better cycling paths in Australian cities if the proportion of people cycling is to increase. Yet the full range of transport, health, environmental and economic impacts of new cycling infrastructure and the extent to which observed changes are sustained is not well understood. The City of Sydney is currently building a new bicycle network, which includes a new bicycle path separated from road traffic in the south Sydney area. This protocol paper describes a comprehensive method to evaluate this new cycling infrastructure.
Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, Jan 10, 2015
Issue addressed: Travel satisfaction has become an increasingly popular construct for the assessm... more Issue addressed: Travel satisfaction has become an increasingly popular construct for the assessment and monitoring of transport systems and services. However, satisfaction may not adequately assess emotion or mood towards walking and cycling, especially when infrastructure is biased towards motor vehicle modes. In this exploratory study we sought to examine the associations of both satisfaction with transport and enjoyment from the commute to work or study by commute mode in an Australian inner city context where transport mode choices are readily available.Methods: As part of the Sydney Transport and Health Study, 675 baseline study participants (2013) were invited to complete an online questionnaire in September/October 2014 and 512 did so (76% response rate). Participants who did not travel to work were removed from analyses, giving complete data for 473. Participants provided data on usual travel mode to work or study, satisfaction with transport, enjoyment from their commute, ...
Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 2014
This study examined the association between domains of quality of life (QoL) and the frequency of... more This study examined the association between domains of quality of life (QoL) and the frequency of cycling by men and women. A cross-sectional survey of 846 healthy adults in Sydney, Australia measured cycling behaviour and self-reported QoL. Participants were aged 18-55 years and were living within 5km of the centre. Cycling frequency for all purposes was recorded as weekly, less than weekly or never cycling. QoL was measured using the four QoL domains of the WHOQOL-BREF: physical psychological, social and environment. Linear regression was used to assess the association between cycling and QoL. Among men, at least weekly cycling was associated with physical QoL (P=0.002) and any cycling was positively associated with psychological wellbeing (at least weekly P=0.01, less than weekly P=0.01) after adjusting for age, education and income. No significant associations were observed for women. Frequent cycling was associated with higher physical and psychological QoL in men, but not amon...
Likert scales are frequently used in public health research, but are subject to scale perception ... more Likert scales are frequently used in public health research, but are subject to scale perception bias. This study sought to explore scale perception bias in quality-of-life (QoL) self-assessment and assess its relationships with commuting mode in the Sydney Travel and Health Study. Multilevel ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association between two global QoL items about overall QoL and health satisfaction, with usual travel mode to work or study. Anchoring vignettes were applied using parametric and simpler nonparametric methods to detect and adjust for differences in reporting behaviour across age, sex, education, and income groups. The anchoring vignettes exposed differences in scale responses across demographic groups. After adjusting for these biases, public transport users (OR = 0.37, 95 % CI 0.21-0.65), walkers (OR = 0.44, 95 % CI 0.24-0.82), and motor vehicle users (OR = 0.47, 95 % CI 0.25-0.86) were all found to have lower odds of reporting high QoL compared with bicycle commuters. Similarly, the odds of reporting high health satisfaction were found to be proportionally lower amongst all competing travel modes: motor vehicle users (OR = 0.31, 95 % CI 0.18-0.56), public transport users (OR = 0.34, 95 % CI 0.20-0.57), and walkers (OR = 0.35, 95 % CI 0.20-0.64) when compared with cyclists. Fewer differences were observed in the unadjusted models. Application of the vignettes by the two approaches removed scaling biases, thereby improving the accuracy of the analyses of the associations between travel mode and quality of life. The adjusted results revealed higher quality of life in bicycle commuters compared with all other travel mode users.
MEROM, D., K. DELBAERE, R. CUMMING, A. VOUKELATOS, C. RISSEL, H. P. VAN DER PLOEG, and S. R. LORD... more MEROM, D., K. DELBAERE, R. CUMMING, A. VOUKELATOS, C. RISSEL, H. P. VAN DER PLOEG, and S. R. LORD. Incidental and Planned Exercise Questionnaire for Seniors: Validity and Responsiveness. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 46, No. 5, pp. 947-954, 2014. Purpose: This study assessed the criterion validity and responsiveness of the Incidental and Planned Exercise Questionnaire (IPEQ) specifically developed for aging research. Methods: The sample comprised 315 community-dwelling inactive older adults (mean age = 73.2 yr) who participated in a trial investigating the effect of a walking program on falls. At baseline, a subsample (n = 177) also wore an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT1M) for 7 d, and 126 of those had four valid days or more of accelerometer data. Validity coefficients (Spearman Q) were calculated between accelerometer counts per minute, average steps per day, average moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) using two cut points (760 and 1041 counts per minute), and IPEQ-MVPA (the sum of physical activity hours per week derived from nine IPEQ items excluding the indoor chores question). Responsiveness was the mean IPEQ change in the intervention group divided by the SD of the mean change in control group. Results: The correlation coefficients between IPEQ-MVPA and counts per minute per day and steps per day were 0.33 and 0.31, respectively. The coefficients with accelerometer MVPA at low and medium cut points were 0.29 and 0.33, respectively, and 0.26 and 0.35 for walking. The Bland-Altman plot showed increased errors with higher values of IPEQ-MVPA. IPEQ incidental physical activity questions and IPEQ as a whole were significantly correlated with accelerometer light intensity (100-760 counts per minute, Q = 0.29 and 0.23). The 12-month responsiveness of total IPEQ was 0.30 and 0.44 for the ''planned walking'' item. Conclusions: IPEQ provides a practical and valid measure of MVPA in surveillance and intervention studies. Incidental activities are mostly of a light-intensity nature, and their low ambulatory component may explain the lower correlation between IPEQ as a whole and accelerometer measures. a MVPA = planned exercise, walking for exercise, walking for errands, and outdoor chores. b MV = moderate-to-vigorous intensity.
Health Promotion Journal of Australia Official Journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 2004
International studies have consistently found that exposure to air pollutants is higher inside ca... more International studies have consistently found that exposure to air pollutants is higher inside cars than outside. However, few studies have compared personal exposure to air pollutants by travel mode focusing on usual travel patterns.
Regular active commuting by walking/cycling can help maintain an active lifestyle. The frequency,... more Regular active commuting by walking/cycling can help maintain an active lifestyle. The frequency, duration and correlates of school active commuting were examined for primary school children in NSW, Australia. Walking/cyclingonly and in combination with bus/car were of short duration (median 7 or 4 min, respectively) and their frequency dropped within a short distance (40.75 km) from school. Apart from distance, child's age, school affiliation and perceived safety, regular walking/cycling (10 trips, 22%) was associated with parents' travel mode to work and with father taking the child to school. Frequent walking/cycling (X5 trips, 37%) was associated with child's level of independence and the perceived benefits of active commuting. Behaviour change in this setting requires multi-level strategies. r
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2009
Background: Time spent outdoors is positively associated with physical activity and has been sugg... more Background: Time spent outdoors is positively associated with physical activity and has been suggested as a proxy for physical activity of children. The role of children's independence in physical activity and time spent outdoors is less understood. This study aimed to assess how much time children spent playing outdoors after school, and to explore the relationship between outdoor play and independence among children aged 10-12 years.
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Papers by Chris Rissel