da Silva Joel Bruno, Tini Bibiana, Martins Ana, Mimoso Inês, Figueiredo Teodora, Fernandes Ana Silva, Gaspar Franklin, Lameira Gisela, Midão Luís, Alcântara Leovaldo, Ahmad Md Imtiaz, Batista Luísa, Rocha Pedro, Ramos Rui Jorge Garcia, Cruz Sara, Rocha Cecília, Corvacho Helena, Ribeiro Anabela, Conceição Paulo, Alves Fernando, Costa Elísio
RISE-Health, Competence Center for Active and Healthy Ageing, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
CITTA-Research Centre for Territory, Transport and Environment, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 May 29;22(6):850. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22060850.
Urban environments and climate-related challenges impact older adults' health and well-being. To address these challenges, climate adaptation strategies and urban design guidelines should be tailored to older adults' needs. Ethnographic studies can help identify these needs by involving them directly in the research process. This study uses ethnographic research to explore older adults' perceptions and behaviours regarding climate change risks and impacts, health, and mobility challenges in a vulnerable urban area-São Roque da Lameira, Porto, Portugal. It studies the applicability and complementarity of four participatory methods that can inform urban design: (I) semi-structured interviews, (II) 'go-along' interviews, (III) user observations, and (IV) emotional mapping. The qualitative data collected were analysed through thematic and spatial analysis. Common themes emerged between the four methods, including concerns about accessibility, safety, and comfort, such as uneven pavements, lack of seating, and poor infrastructure for people with reduced mobility. Participants recommended improvements, such as more green spaces and better pedestrian infrastructure quality. Notably, each method uncovered distinct dimensions, highlighting the added value of a multi-method approach. This study demonstrates that combining participatory methods offers deeper, context-specific insights to inform age-friendly and climate-resilient urban design. Future research should take climate-focused methods and a multidisciplinary approach into consideration.
城市环境和与气候相关的挑战会影响老年人的健康和福祉。为应对这些挑战，气候适应策略和城市设计指南应根据老年人的需求进行调整。人种志研究可以通过让老年人直接参与研究过程来帮助确定这些需求。本研究采用人种志研究方法，以探索葡萄牙波尔图市一个脆弱城市地区——圣罗克-达-拉梅拉的老年人对气候变化风险与影响、健康及出行挑战的认知和行为。该研究考察了四种可为城市设计提供参考的参与式方法的适用性和互补性：（一）半结构化访谈；（二）“边走边谈”访谈；（三）用户观察；（四）情感地图绘制。通过主题分析和空间分析对收集到的定性数据进行了分析。这四种方法中出现了一些共同主题，包括对可达性、安全性和舒适性的担忧，例如人行道不平、缺乏座位以及行动不便者的基础设施较差。参与者建议进行改善，例如增加绿地和提高行人基础设施质量。值得注意的是，每种方法都揭示了不同的维度，凸显了多方法 approach 的附加价值。本研究表明，结合参与式方法能提供更深入、针对具体情境的见解，以指导利于老年人且具有气候适应力的城市设计。未来的研究应考虑以气候为重点的方法和多学科 approach。
