Built environment instruments for walkability, bikeability, and recreation: disability and universal design relevant?

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Numerous instruments assess the built environment's impact on physical activity.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the applicability of these instruments for people with disabilities (PWDs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an in-depth review of built environment and physical activity instruments.
• To evaluate the applicability of these instruments for PWDs.

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of 95 instruments measuring walkability, bikeability, and recreation.
• Assessment of instruments for disability and universal design (UD) relevance.
• Cataloging instruments by psychometric properties, data collection, and impact.

Main Results:

• One-third of instruments include disability-specific items; few consistently demonstrate UD principles.
• Psychometric information is available for about half of the instruments.
• Most instruments use objective/audit methods; over half have peer-reviewed citations.

Conclusions:

• New/revised instruments should enhance focus on specific disability populations.
• Incorporation of all UD principles is recommended for instrument development.
• Attention to psychometric quality and measurement specificity is crucial.