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Table 2 First field testing of the ALPHA questionnaire (N = 190): Answer frequencies, mean scores, and test-retest reliability scores.

From: Measuring physical activity-related environmental factors: reliability and predictive validity of the European environmental questionnaire ALPHA

 

Answer Frequencies and mean score of each item on the first assessment

Test-retest reliability scores

 

Types of residences

   

Item/scale

None

A Few

Some

Most

All

Mean (SD)

Agreement, %

ICC

1. Residential density

       

0.68a

   a) Detached houses

19.5

31.1

22.6

18.4

8.4

2.7 (1.2)

70

0.80

   b) Semi-detached townhouses, terraced houses

8.5

29.6

19.6

37.6

4.8

3.0 (1.1)

66

0.71

   c) Flats of 6 floors or more

43.0

24.7

15.1

12.9

4.3

2.1 (1.2)

66

0.72

 

Travel time to facilities

  
 

1-5 min

6-10 min

11-20 min

21-30 min

>30 min

Mean (SD)

Agreement, %

ICC

2. Distance to local facilities

       

0.86 b

   a) Local shop

64.7

25.8

7.9

0.5

1.1

1.5 (0.8)

76

0.74

   b) Supermarket

20.5

24.7

26.3

9.5

8.9

2.5 (1.2)

67

0.78

   c) Local services

20.6

31.2

30.2

11.1

6.9

2.5 (1.1)

66

0.80

   d) Restaurant

46.8

27.9

16.8

3.2

5.3

1.9 (1.1)

62

0.71

   e) Fast-food restaurant

27.4

25.3

16.3

14.2

16.8

2.7 (1.4)

65

0.82

   f) Busstop

74.2

17.4

6.8

0.5

1.1

1.4 (0.7)

81

0.75

   g) Sport and leisure facility

16.3

25.3

28.9

14.2

15.3

2.9 (1.3)

63

0.70

   h) Open recreation area

37.4

24.2

23.2

8.4

6.8

2.2 (1.2)

59

0.73

 

Acceptance of statements

  
 

Strongly disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

I don't know

Mean (SD)

Agreement, %

ICC

3. Total Infrastructure

       

0.68 b

Cycling Infrastructure,

       

0.67 c

Walking infrastructure

       

0.66 d

   a) special lanes, routes or paths to cycle

18.4

13.7

37.9

28.9

1.1

2.8 (1.1)#

64

0.75

   b) traffic-free cycle routes

41.6

24.2

19.5

12.6

2.1

2.0 (1.1) #

59

0.60

   c) sidewalks

2.6

5.8

18.4

72.6

0.5

3.6 (0.7) #

71

0.60

   d) pedestrian zones for shopping

55.3

11.6

16.8

14.7

1.6

1.9 (1.2) #

64

0.69

4. Maintenance

       

0.66b

   a) cycling paths are well maintained

9.5

10.1

39.7

20.6

20.7

2.9 (0.9) #

60

0.61

   b) sidewalks are well maintained

5.3

18.5

56.1

19.0

1.1

2.9 (0.8) #

65

0.58

   c) public recreation facilities are well maintained

5.3

9.5

47.1

32.8

5.3

3.1 (0.8) #

62

0.61

 

Strongly disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

 

Mean (SD)

Agreement, %

ICC

5. Safety

       

0.75b

Safety from crime

       

0.77e

Safety from traffic

       

0.69f

   a) not safe to leave a bicycle locked

16.5

28.7

33.5

21.3

 

2.6 (1.0)

53

0.53

   b) not enough safe places to cross busy streets

18.0

46.0

31.2

4.8

 

2.2 (0.8)

52

0.44

   c) Walking is unsafe because of the traffic

35.4

50.3

12.7

1.6

 

1.8 (0.9)

64

0.54

   d) Cycling is unsafe because of the traffic

20.6

44.4

27.5

7.4

 

2.2 (0.9)

61

0.64

   e) unsafe during the day because of the level of crime

58.2

31.7

9.0

1.1

 

1.5 (0.7)

71

0.61

   f) unsafe during the night because of the level of crime

37.0

32.8

22.2

7.9

 

2.0 (1.0)

68

0.81

6. Pleasant

       

0.81b

Aesthetics

       

0.79g

   a) a pleasant environment for walking and cycling

2.1

21.6

52.6

23.7

 

2.9 (0.7)

69

0.70

   b) generally free from litter or graffiti

10.5

29.5

43.7

16.3

 

2.7 (0.9)

66

0.61

   c) trees along the streets

12.6

16.8

33.7

36.8

 

2.9 (1.0)

62

0.73

   d) a lot of badly maintained, unoccupied or ugly buildings

38.4

35.8

20.5

5.3

 

1.9 (0.9)

66

0.65

7. Cycling & walking network

       

0.80b

Connectivity

       

0.92h

   a) Cycling is quicker than driving during the day

20.0

28.4

27.9

15.3

8.4

2.4 (1.0) #

53

0.57

   b) Easier to take shortcuts with a bicycle or walking that with a car

10.5

16.3

41.6

27.9

3.7

2.9(0.9) #

57

0.52

   c) many intersections

5.3

21.6

43.7

26.3

3.2

2.9 (0.8) #

60

0.61

   d) many different routes for cycling or walking from place to place

2.1

23.2

48.9

22.6

3.2

3.0 (0.7) #

66

0.65

 

Availability of

    

Agreement, %

ICC

 

yes

no

      

8. Home environment

       

0.86b

   a) Bicycle

61.1

38.9

    

99

 

   b) Garden

72.0

28.0

    

96

 

   c) Small sports equipment

70.0

30.0

    

94

 

   d) Eercise equipment

47.9

52.1

    

93

 

   e) Car

82.1

17.9

    

98

 

   f) Dog

24.7

75.3

    

99

 

9. Workplace or study environment

       

0.82b

   a) Escalators

61.0

39.0

    

91

 

   b) Stairs

89.9

10.1

    

94

 

   c) Fitness centre/equipment

27.7

72.3

    

93

 

   d) Bicycles provided by employer or school

13.8

86.2

    

93

 

   e) A safe place to leave a bike

66.5

33.5

    

85

 

   f) A free car park

65.4

34.6

    

90

 

   g) Showers and changing rooms

57.9

42.1

    

92

 

   h) Exercise classes

22.6

77.4

    

92

 

   i) Sports club

22.0

48.0

    

92

 

   j) Employer subsidised public transport/cycling

44.7

55.3

    

85

 
  1. # without 'I don't know' variable
  2. a weighted by the following formula = item1a + (12* item 1b)+ (50*item 1c); b: total sum score of all items; c: sum score of items 3a & 3b; d: sum score of items 3c & 3d; e: sum score of reversed items 5a, 5e & 5f; f: sum score of reversed items 5b, 5c, 5d; g:sum score of items 6b, 6c, reversed 6d; h:sum score of items 7b, 7c & 7d
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International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

ISSN: 1479-5868

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