Development and reliability testing of the winter walkability audit tool

Introduction

The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate the Winter Walkability Audit Tool (WWAT) for assessing the walkability of pedestrian environments during winter.

Methods

The WWAT was crafted based on the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes, incorporating items identified from literature reviews and expert consultations. Pilot testing was conducted in Alberta, Canada, from February to March 2023, where fifty-six routes were independently audited to assess inter-rater reliability. Preliminary validity was also explored by correlating audit data with self-reported walking behaviors of older adults living in the audited neighborhoods.

Results

The results showed that audit item reliability ranged from 33 % to 100 %, with some items achieving perfect agreement but being seldom observed. Negative correlations were found between winter hazards identified in audits and self-reported walking by residents.

Conclusions

These initial findings suggest that the WWAT is a reliable tool for evaluating winter pedestrian environments and their influence on walking behavior. Further testing is necessary to validate its effectiveness across different contexts. The WWAT holds significance for public health professionals as it enables quantification of how winter-related built environment design policies impact individual health. This understanding can inform the development of targeted interventions aimed at promoting outdoor physical activity during the winter months.