From: Cost-effectiveness of active transport for primary school children - Walking School Bus program
Level of evidence | Equity | Acceptability | Feasibility | Sustainability | Side-effects |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
May be effective: No Level I or II evidence Modelling based on Level IV evidence Further effectiveness data sought but does not appear to support intervention's effectiveness. | Moderate equity concerns: Less access for children in rural and remote areas | Less acceptable to older children in primary schools Requires a big time commitment from the school community, which may not be acceptable to all schools | Likely issues: Variations in service delivery model between states make national implementation complex and question of appropriate auspicing body difficult. Substantial fixed costs for set-up and ongoing maintenance | Likely issues: Program requires ongoing funding & support, which may impact on sustainability. | Positive: Less traffic, pollution, safer around schools. Facilitates social networks. Increases awareness of local neighbourhoods Enhances pedestrian skills. May be positive impacts on family travel behaviour Negative: Potential to decrease the number of parents walking |
Decision points : Weak evidence of effectiveness | Moderate issue | Not a major issue | Some significant concerns | Issue which needs to be addressed | Significant wider positive benefits |
Policy considerations: The WSB intervention is not cost-effective in terms of its effect on obesity in children under current uptake results. Action to improve uptake is worthy of consideration. Further, the intervention was not designed as an obesity prevention initiative, but as a program to produce change in the travel behaviour of students and to promote a safer traffic environment around schools. Lack of data on the incremental change in the numbers taking up active transport as a consequence of the intervention is a key limitation. |