Abstract
BackgroundAn online version of the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (Abbreviated) tool was adapted to virtually audit built environment features supportive of physical activity. The current study assessed inter-rater reliability of MAPS Online between in-person raters and online raters unfamiliar with the regions.MethodsIn-person and online audits were conducted for a total of 120 quarter-mile routes (60 per site) in Phoenix, AZ and San Diego, CA. Routes in each city included 40 residential origins stratified by walkability and SES, and 20 commercial centers. In-person audits were conducted by raters residing in their region. Online audits were conducted by raters in the alternate location using Google Maps (Aerial and Street View) images. The MAPS Abbreviated Online tool consisted of four sections: overall route, street segments, crossings and cul-de-sacs. Items within each section were grouped into subscales, and inter-rater reliability (ICCs) was assessed for subscales at multiple levels of aggregation.ResultsOnline and in-person audits showed excellent agreement for overall positive microscale (ICC = 0.86, 95% CI [0.80, 0.90]) and grand scores (ICC = 0.93, 95% CI [0.89, 0.95]). Substantial to near-perfect agreement was found for 21 of 30 (70%) subscales, valence, and subsection scores, with ICCs ranging from 0.62, 95% CI [0.50, 0.72] to 0.95, 95% CI [0.93, 0.97]. Lowest agreement was found for the aesthetics and social characteristics scores, with ICCs ranging from 0.07, 95% CI [−0.12, 0.24] to 0.27, 95% CI [0.10, 0.43].ConclusionsResults support use of the MAPS Abbreviated Online tool to reliably assess microscale neighborhood features that support physical activity and may be used by raters residing in different geographic regions and unfamiliar with the audit areas.
Highlights
An online version of the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (Abbreviated) tool was adapted to virtually audit built environment features supportive of physical activity
A relatively small body of work has examined the relationships between microscale features and physical activity, and studies have generally been constricted in the number and/or size of geographic areas studied [2, 3, 8, 11, 12]
Seven of eight subscales had substantial to near-perfect agreement, with Inter-rater agree‐ Confidence ment (ICC) values ranging from 0.62, 95% Confidence interval (CI) [0.50, 0.72] to 0.92, 95% CI [0.89, 0.95]
Summary
An online version of the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (Abbreviated) tool was adapted to virtually audit built environment features supportive of physical activity. Supportive features of the built environment may be relevant to physical activity [2,3,4,5] and often result in health, social. In-person audits are vulnerable to unfavorable weather conditions and may present potential safety risks for auditors. These elements are likely impediments to advancing research and practical implementation. The global consequence of a limited research base and relatively few geographic areas is a lack of understanding about how microscale features in communities throughout the world influence physical activity behaviors
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