Table 2 Characteristics of the included reviews
Author & publication year | Number of included studies | Included studies (range in years) | Age groups | Location | Review type | Study design | Study objectives | Interventions | Key findings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 [23] | Audrey & Batista-Ferrer (2015) | 32 | 1991–2014 | Children and young people | North America, Oceania, and Europe | Systematic review | quasi-experiments – controlled (81%); quasi-experiments – uncontrolled (19%) | To examine evidence from interventions in the urban environment in relation to health behaviors and physical and mental health outcomes of children and young people | Park and playground modifications, road traffic safety measures, multi-component community-based interventions and promoting active travel | Some evidence was found for interventions to reduce road traffic injuries, to increase active travel, in relation to a multi-component health initiative. Limited evidence was identified for interventions to increase park and playground usage |
2 [24] | Hunter, et al. (2019) | 38 | 2002–2016 | All age groups | North America, Oceania, and Europe | Systematic review | quasi-experiments – controlled (89%); quasi-experiments – uncontrolled (11%) | To review and synthesize the evidence of urban green space (UGS) interventions; to discuss the findings at an expert review panel; and to develop recommendations on UGS interventions to policymakers, practitioners and researchers | A physical change to green space in urban areas, including improving UGS or developing new UGS, or a combination of physical change to UGS supplemented by a specific UGS-usage promotion program | The use of certain UGS interventions was found supportive for health, social and environmental benefits, in particular park-based and greenway/trail-based interventions employing a dual approach. In other UGS interventions inconclusive finding was found |
3 [25] | Kärmeniemi, et al. (2018) | 51 | 2003–2015 | All age groups | North America, Oceania, Europe, and Asia | Systematic review | quasi-experiments – controlled (61%); longitudinal cohort studies (39%) | To identify the determinants of the built environment that are related to physical activity (PA) and to evaluate the effects of built environment changes on PA | Objective built environment measures (such as new infrastructure and park and playground improvements) and perceived built environment measures (such as safety and aesthetics) | Built environment changes can lead to PA change. For example, higher accessibility and new infrastructure for walking, cycling and public transportation are related with higher PA levels |
4 [26] | Panter, et al. (2019) | 13 | 1987–2015 | All age groups | North America, Oceania, Europe, and Asia | Systematic review | quasi-experiments – controlled (46%); quasi-experiments – uncontrolled (54%) | To understand how built environment interventions impact PA and walking and cycling behavior and to understand their effectiveness of lack thereof | Interventions to promote walking and cycling: accessibility and connectivity, traffic and personal safety and quality/experience | Three intervention categories were identified that promote walking and cycling: improving accessibility and connectivity, improving traffic and personal safety, and improving walking and cycling experience |
5 [27] | Smith, et al. (2017) | 28 | 1979–2015 | All age groups | North America, Oceania, and Europe | Systematic review | not reported | To identify which built environment interventions are effective in promoting PA in local residents and to build on the evidence base by considering intervention cost and the differential effects of different demographics | Active transport infrastructure, parks and playgrounds, walkability components | Potential ways to promote activity in children and adults were found: neighborhood walkability improvement, parks and playgrounds’ quality enhancement, and adequate active transport infrastructure provision |
6 [28] | Stappers, et al. (2018) | 19 | 2005–2017 | All age groups | North America, Oceania, and Europe | Systematic review | quasi-experiments – controlled (89%); quasi-experiments – uncontrolled (11%) | To update and specify the evidence on the effects of different types of infrastructural interventions on PA, active travel and sedentary behavior in adults | On- and off-road bicycle and/or walking trails, built environment infrastructural changes | The impact of built environment infrastructural changes varies a lot across types of intervention and outcome measure. Infrastructural interventions are not always effective in promoting PA or active travel |
7 [29] | Tcymbal, et al. (2020) | 36 | 2007–2020 | All age groups | North America, Oceania, Europe, and Asia | Systematic review | quasi-experiments – controlled and uncontrolled (69%); longitudinal cohort studies (31%) | To identify built environment determinants of PA and thereby taking gender into account | Interventions related to transport, recreation and household | Creating a new infrastructure for walking, cycling, and public transportation showed a positive effect on PA. Improving walking and cycling infrastructure had no effect on the overall PA, but it had a positive effect on active transportation |