Trips4Health

The Trips4Health is a study being conducted by researchers from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research (Menzies) in collaboration with partners (Metro Tasmania, the Local Government Association of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Department of Health, Deakin University and the University of Sydney).

Public transport users tend to accumulate more physical activity than car users, usually through walking to and from stops and stations. Engaging in sufficient physical activity offers a wealth of health benefits to individuals, but more than half of the Tasmanian population does not meet physical activity targets.

The study aims to test the impact of incentives to increase bus use for physical activity gain. It is hoped that this study will help more Tasmanians reach these targets and lead healthier lives because of it.

Who can participate?

You must be aged 18+ years; live in Southern Tasmania and can access an urban Metro bus service; are an infrequent bus user (on average ≤ 2 trips/week in the past six months); and have a Metro Greencard or a willingness to obtain one.

What will I be asked to do?

The study period is 10 months. You will be asked to visit Menzies three times - at the start of the study, four months later, and then six months after that. If you are unable to visit Menzies, you may be able to provide information through an online survey. You will be asked to provide the research team with your Greencard number for the purpose of tracking your bus use over the 10-month study period.

Will I benefit from being a part of this study?

Participants assigned to the intervention group will receive Greencard credit for every weekly bus use target met.

Potential benefits also include health improvements through increased physical activity and reduced transport costs. All participants (irrespective of group allocation) will receive compensation for completing each assessment in the form of Metro Greencard credits. The value of the Greencard credits will increase with each assessment completed.

Thank you for your interest, but this study is no longer seeking volunteers.

This study has been approved by the Tasmanian Health and Medical Human Research Ethics Committee H0017820.