National Ageing Research Institute, Royal Melbourne Hospital, PO Box 2127, Melbourne, 3050, Australia.
Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Jun 22;24(1):1663. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19042-3.
Recreational parks can play a significant role in older people's health, with emerging evidence suggesting that changes in the physical environment, such as refurbishments of local parks, can increase park visitations and physical activity engagement. The ENJOY MAP for HEALTH aimed to evaluate the impact of Seniors Exercise Park installations and associated capacity building activities on older people's park visitation, and park-based physical activity.
The ENJOY MAP for HEALTH was a quasi-experiment study design that involved the installation of specialised Seniors Exercise Park equipment as part of park refurbishment, supported by promotion and community capacity building activities in six municipalities in Victoria, Australia. Direct observations of park users took place prior to park upgrades, one-month post upgrade and 12-months from baseline. The overall number and characteristics of park visitors, and the type and level of physical activity undertaken, were summarised descriptively. Generalised linear models were used to examine the impact of park refurbishment (equipment installation and site activation) on the total number of older people observed in the park, and their engagement in physical activity, accounting for site and seasonal effects.
Overall number of visits increased following park upgrades, with the largest number of visitors observed one-month post upgrade (n = 12,501). The proportion of older people observed at the parks remained relatively low prior to and one-month post upgrade compared to other age groups. However, after adjusting for site and seasonal effects, the number of older people observed in the parks increased significantly post upgrade and site activation compared to prior to the refurbishment (incidence rate ratios (IRR) 3.55; 95% CI 2.68, 4.70). The number of older people observed to be exercising at the Seniors Exercise Park also increased by 100% at 12-months post-installation relative to one-month post upgrade (IRR 2.00; 95% CI 1.26, 3.17).
Installation of the Seniors Exercise Parks and the supportive programs and activities following six park upgrades resulted in an increase in older people's park visitation and engagement in physical activity. Community engagement and training of volunteers with the support of local governments are likely to contribute to the increased park usage by older people.
This trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. Trial registration number ACTRN12621000965808. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380745&isReview=true .
休闲公园可以在老年人的健康中发挥重要作用，新出现的证据表明，物理环境的变化，如当地公园的翻新，可以增加公园的访问量和身体活动的参与度。ENJOY MAP for HEALTH 旨在评估老年人运动公园的安装以及相关能力建设活动对老年人公园访问量和基于公园的身体活动的影响。
ENJOY MAP for HEALTH 是一项准实验研究设计，涉及在澳大利亚维多利亚州的六个市进行公园翻新时安装专门的老年人运动公园设备，同时还进行了宣传和社区能力建设活动。在公园升级之前、升级后一个月和基线后 12 个月进行了对公园使用者的直接观察。总结了公园访客的总数和特征，以及进行的身体活动的类型和水平。使用广义线性模型来检验公园翻新（设备安装和场地激活）对公园中观察到的老年人总数以及他们参与身体活动的影响，同时考虑了场地和季节性效应。
公园升级后，访问量总体增加，升级后一个月观察到的访客人数最多（n=12501）。与其他年龄组相比，在升级之前和升级后一个月，观察到的老年人比例相对较低。然而，在调整了场地和季节性效应后，与翻新前相比，升级后和场地激活后观察到的公园内老年人数量显著增加（发病率比（IRR）3.55；95%CI 2.68，4.70）。与升级后一个月相比，在安装后的 12 个月内，在老年人运动公园锻炼的老年人人数增加了 100%（IRR 2.00；95%CI 1.26，3.17）。
在六个公园升级之后，安装老年人运动公园以及支持计划和活动导致老年人的公园访问量和身体活动参与度增加。社区参与和志愿者培训得到地方政府的支持，可能会增加老年人对公园的使用。
该试验在澳大利亚和新西兰临床试验注册中心注册。试验注册号 ACTRN12621000965808。https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380745&isReview=true。
