Common measures of green and blue space for built environment, health equity and intervention research: a scoping review

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to describe self-report and audit-based measurement tools of green and blue space used for health equity and intervention research. This scoping review was conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). In March 2022, we performed a literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus. We found 22 papers, six of which used self-report tools and 16 of which relied on audit-based measures to assess green or blue space. These tools measure aspects of blue and green space including accessibility, equipment, and use. The System for Observing Parks and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) was most used followed by the Public Open Space Audit Tool (POST) and the Community Park Audit Tool (CPAT). The priority populations most often studied were residents of low socio-economic status/high disadvantage neighbourhoods, followed by racialized groups and women. This scoping review provides guidance on common measurement tools that can be used by researchers working on green/blue space for health equity and intervention research. No reliable and valid self-report measure was used or available in the literature to examine equity in green/blue space.KEYWORDS: green spaceequityinterventionreliabilityvalidityblue space Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Supplementary materialSupplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2260134.Additional informationFundingFunding to support this work was provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada.Notes on contributorsDaniel FullerDaniel Fuller, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan. His research is focused on using wearable technologies to study physical activity, transportation interventions, and equity in urban spaces. Dan has an M.Sc. in Kinesiology from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. in Public Health from Université de Montréal. He is a Principal Investigator on the INTERACT and CapaCITY/É research teams.Martine ShareckMartine Shareck, Ph.D., is a population health researcher and Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke. She holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (2020-2025) on urban environments and health equity among young people. Trained in social epidemiology, health promotion and health geography, she has expertise in research with marginalized populations, on the social determinants of health, in mixed-methods program evaluation and in urban health inequities. She is a Principal Investigator on the CapaCITY/É research team.Stephanie SersliStephanie Sersli, Ph.D., recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke. She is a health geographer whose research interests encompass place, health lifestyles, and active transportation.Carly PriebeCarly Priebe, Ph.D., holds a Lecturer faculty position in the College of Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research interests focus on group norms, health messaging, multiple health behaviour change, public health, and program evaluation. She is particularly interested in incorporating elements of the UN Sustainable Development Goals into her teaching and research practices.Ali AlfosoolAli Alfosool, Ph.D., is a visionary entrepreneur and researcher in clean tech and sustainability. Expert in diverse domains, including complex networks, mobile computing, and AI (ML, CV), he has contributed to advancing geo-based walkability and public health initiatives. With a notable track record of co-founding award-winning tech startups globally, and a commitment to addressing societal challenges, he champions causes related to poverty, food insecurity, sustainability, and equity.Justin LangJustin Lang, Ph.D., is a Research Scientist with the Public Health Agency of Canada and an Adjunct Professor with the School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa. His research is focused on measurement and using national survey data to help inform health surveillance indicators in Canada. Areas of focus include movement behaviours, physical fitness, chronic disease burden, mental health, suicide prevention, and built environment research.Emily Wolfe PhillipsEmily Wolfe Phillips is a Socio-economic Analyst Researcher with the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Equity at the Public Health Agency of Canada. Her research has focused on physical activity, physical fitness, and well-being. Current areas of work include supportive environments for healthy living and chronic disease prevention.