Diputació de Barcelona
Entorn urbà i salut
 
Tools to incorporate the health perspective in municipal actions
 

Citizens education through participatory research learning: A Kaunas pilot study

Grazuleviciene, R., Andrusaityte, S., Dedele, A.
2019

Link to the resource: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334678348

Format:
Communication
Target population:
General population
Objetive:

Propose, through a case study, a citizen science methodology that contributes to greater awareness and active participation of the population in urban health (particularly regarding physical activity and green spaces).

Methodology:

The model to develop this pilot study has seven steps:

  • choosing a scientific question,
  • forming a team of scientists-educators,
  • developing protocols, creating data forms and educational support materials,
  • ensuring the participation and training of participants,
  • collecting data, encoding and visualisation,
  • analysing and interpreting data,
  • disseminating and measuring results.

The urban health indicators that are included in the case study of Kaunas (Lithuania), are: noise level, air pollution, the surface of green space and accessibility to public parks.

Opportunities and limitations:

The proposed methodology has two objectives: contribute to greater awareness and education about the urban environment and its implications in terms of health, and undertake collective data collection that serves for decision-making.

Thus, citizens are helped to acquire research skills, new knowledge and collaborative experiences, and are encouraged to adopt healthier habits.

This requires a multidisciplinary team that is highly involved in the process, and direct ties with the community to enable a fruitful, long-term collaboration.

Indicators:
Level of air pollution.
Level of noise pollution.
Distance from the dwelling to an open public space (green/not green).
Connectivity of the cycling network with other means of public transport.
Number of actors/local administrations involved.
Percentage of people who feel they can influence their environment.
Thematic:
Mobility and accessibility Public space Green infrastructure Equipment and services Cohesion and social capital
Link to health:
Physical
Scale of the field of study:
Neighbourhood (or higher) Block - set of buildings or spaces
Implementation phase:
Diagnosis / pre-project Implementation Monitoring and evaluation
Methodological approach:
Qualitative / Participatory