Waterways & Wellbeing: Unlocking the Health Benefits of the World’s Canals

Dr Sebastien Chastin is a tenured Reader in Physical activity and health at the Institute of Applied Health Research at Glasgow Caledonian University. He received BSc in metrology, a Master in Rehabilitation Sciences and a PhD in Non-linear physics. He is a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. Previously he had post at the British Antarctic Survey, Oxford and Edinburgh Universities.

Transcript

1. Waterways and Wellbeing: Unlocking the Health Benefits of the World’s Canals www.wcc16.com #WCCSCOTLAND Dr Seb Chastin Glasgow Caledonian University/ Ghent Univers
2. Question Can inland waterways play a significant and active role in improving health and wellbeing?
3. Live Polling • Select Live Polling from home screen • Select the relevant session • Select your answer • Click “Submit” www.wcc16.com
4. Question Can inland waterways play a significant and active role in improving health and wellbeing?
5. YES but How?
6. New challenges in health and wellbeing NCD Urbanisation
7. Non communicable diseases EEA 2015
8. NCD = 63% of global death (38 million/year) 80% in low-middle incom countries 82% before age of 60 COST = 48% of global GDP (Harvard/IEF 2011)
9. PREVENTABLE
10. Risk factors Inactivity Diet Smoking Alcohol Stress
11. Inactivity Lancet 2012 COST: $53·8 billion worldwide in 2013 (Ding Lancet 201
12. Inactivity Ng 2011
13. Inactivity Diet Smoking Alcohol Stress ENVIRONMENT
14. Urbanisation
15. Urban waterway • Water resources • Traffic accident • Physical inactivity • Unhealthy diet • Stress • Loneliness • Health inequities Urbanisation
19. Water way and health? Urban open space Green space Active transport Blue space
20. YES but How? It is logical Scientific evidence of effect on hea of all the pieces is theoretically the
22. Health Equity How? How much? Who benefits?
23. Physical activity Diet Stress Road safety Air quality Economy LOGIC MODEL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ACTIONS Who is this user? I HAVE NOT CHANGED ANYTHING JUST DISPLACED A CYCLING ROUTE BENEFIT THOSE ALREADY BENEFITING NO NEW IMPACT ON HEALTH GENTRIFICATION INCREASED INEQUITIES - Already a cyclist - From a wealthy area
24. Morta Mitchell et al. 2008 Mortality rate compared to highest income group 1 Question: Do inland waterways have a greater potential to reduce health inequalities?
25. Guiding principles • What health changes are observed as the results of canals and inland waterway development • Size of the health effect? • How far does this effect stretch? • Can we really attribute health changes to the developments? Or are there other mechanisms? • Are the changes equitable?
26. “None of the decisions were initiated based on scientific evidence or from listening to the community. ” Centre for Health, Environment and Justic
27. Scientific evidence of health impact of inland waterways on health Systematic literature review 98% evidence focuses on PATHOGENIC EFFECTS SALUTOGENIC EFFECTS 2% - 0 quantified/evaluate health effect of canals/water - 2 reviews on effect of blue spaces - 1 Epidemiological study around the Mississippi river - 1 Review of Health impact assessment of urban waterway decisions.
28. Very few planning process consider health impact Limited attention to salutogenic effects (4 cases) Very complex Very limited data to inform planning - Water quality generally monitored - no monitoring systems for - usage - physical activity No framework for community engagement non-users disavantaged 4 Cases only
29. Question Do you agree with these conclusions?
30. Question Could you rate on a scale of 1 (high) to 5 (low) the priority you would give to the each of these needs highlighted by the review below? 1) NEED TO ESTABLISH AN EVIDENCE BASE 2) NEED TO ESTABLISH A MONITORING SYSTEM 3) NEED TO ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
31. The Scottish Canals Study AIMS: – Co-Create with stakeholders/users/ communities and establish an evidence base – Establish a framework for community engagement – Establish a monitoring system (international)
32. Natural experiment • Most extensive natural experiment in green and blue space • 1 person in 10 live within 3km • Worst health in Europe • Diverse communities • Diversity of salutogenic assets Housing Leisure Sports Attractions Events Active transport
33. Scientific plan Citizen Science Train Equip USERS/NON-USERS Gather and analyse data - What works/doesn’t work? - What impact on their life? “OUR VOICE” Global Citizen Science network Epidemiology Match - Chronology of regeneration - Population Health data Has health changed? By how much? Where and how far? For how long? Can we attribute it to the canals? PER ASSET Evaluation Observatory Who use? Why ? How often? For what purpose? Health Economics Cost benefit of ASSETS Co-creation ALL STAKEHOLDERS Report Observatory Tool for planning/evaluating health impact
34. Let’s Co-Create
35. Better shared Health Canal transformation Simple Conceptual Logic Model Increased Canal use Positive changes in individuals and places Dr Paul Kelly @narrowboat_paul Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC) Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences University of Edinburgh
36. Resources and input Activities and Outputs Short and Intermediate outcomes Outcomes Awareness Policy and regulation Promotion, engagement Local councils Scottish Canals SUSTRANS Contractors Funding Media Canal side communities/ schools Social Enterprises Construction and maintenance Impacts Improved perceptions Walking behaviour Cycling behaviour Social norms for usage Safety in numbers Usage Social connected- ness IMPROVED SHARED HEALTH Improved access and safety Enjoyment of usage Green environment exposure Walking and cycling efficacy Blue environment exposure Leisure, social and community activities Operational Logic model v3.0 Place for activity, engagement, meeting others Reasons for activity, engagement, meeting others Education, discovery and capacity building activities Blue environment exposure
37. Improved shared health Canal transformatio n Emerging socio-economic pathway New business opportunities Commercial spaces Tourism Creative industries Business use Renewable energy New housing Improved living conditions Employment Shifting demographics Improved health statistics “Gentrification”
38. Global Observatory
39. Thank you for listening FOR FUTHER INFORMATION IF YOU INTERESTED IN COLLABORATING WITH US Or IF YOU CAN FUND THE STUDY Contact: Sebastien.Chastin@gcu.ac.uk