Supportive neighbourhood built characteristics and dog-walking in Canadian adults.

摘要: OBJECTIVES: Our study objectives were to: 1) estimate differences in perceptions of the neighbourhood built environment among non-dog-owners, owners who walk their dogs (dog-walkers) and do not (non-dog-walkers), 2) associations between dog-walking frequency. METHOD: A random cross-section Calgary adults completed telephone interviews during August–October 2007 ( n = 2,199, response rate 33.6%) or January–April 2008 2,223, 36.7%). Telephone a follow-up questionnaire captured physical activity, health sociodemographic characteristics, dog-ownership, perceived characteristics. Using ANOVA, we compared non-dog-walkers dog-walkers. For dog-owners only, logistic regression estimated (odds ratios: OR) participation environment. Among dog-walkers, ≥4 times/week Furthermore, linear (unstandardized β ) frequency RESULTS: Compared with non-dog-owners reported more positive street connectivity, pedestrian infrastructure, walkability p < 0.05). aesthetics was positively associated (p 0.05) likelihood walking dog times usual week (covariate-adjusted-OR 1.67) (covariate-adjusted- 0.15). also 1.03) CONCLUSION: Perceptions appear to differ dog-owners. While improvements may encourage initiate dog-walking, creating attractive walkable neighbourhoods support regular already dogs.