RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Promoting Sustainable and Active Mobility Among Employees and Students

This study, taking place in Germany, is all about understanding how people's daily journeys to work or university affect their health. Researchers are especially interested in 'active travel' – that's when you use your own energy to get around, like walking, cycling, or even using a scooter. They want to see how these types of journeys link with health aspects such as heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar. They'll also be looking at how long people travel, how they travel, and even their exposure to air pollution. The main goal is to figure out how encouraging more active ways of getting to and from places could improve people's health and help the environment at the same time. This information could then be used to help more people have healthier commutes.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Hannover Medical School

Enrolment target

500

Start

01 Aug 2024

Estimated completion

30 Jun 2026

Mobility on the Way to Work and Health-related Outcomes

What is this study about?

This research wants to understand the connection between how people travel to work or university and their overall health. Many people don't get enough physical activity, and the journey to and from work could be a great chance to build more movement into our day. The study is particularly focused on what's called 'active mobility' – this simply means using your own physical strength to get somewhere, such as walking, cycling, or similar.

Researchers in Hannover, Germany, are collecting information from university staff and students. They'll be looking at things like your heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and even how much air pollution you're exposed to during your commute. They'll also record details about your journey, such as how long it takes and what type of transport you use. This will help them see if choosing an active way to travel makes a difference to these health measurements.

The idea is to combine all this information to understand who might benefit most from being encouraged to have a more active commute. For example, if they find that certain groups of people show big health improvements from walking or cycling, that information can help create programmes to support more active travel for those groups. Ultimately, the study aims to show how our daily travel habits can impact our well-being and how we might make better choices for our health.

Key takeaways

This study looks at how your daily commute affects your health.
It focuses on 'active travel' like walking or cycling.
Researchers will track your travel and take some health measurements.
The aim is to find out who benefits most from an active commute.
It's for people aged 18-75 in Hannover, Germany.

Who may be eligible?

To be able to join this study, you need to be an adult between 18 and 75 years old.

One important rule is that you must live within 50 kilometres (about 31 miles) of your workplace or university in Hannover, Germany. This helps the researchers study commutes that are similar for everyone involved.

You cannot take part in this study if you are already involved in another medical study that is testing a new treatment or intervention. This is because being in two studies at once could make it difficult to understand the results of either study properly.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 75 years old?
Do you live within 50 kilometres of your workplace/university in Hannover, Germany?
Are you NOT currently part of another medical trial that involves a treatment?
Are you open to having your travel tracked and some health checks done?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The study does not specify how long it would last or exactly what daily or weekly activities would be involved. However, based on the description, if you were to take part, you would likely be asked to use a smartphone app or a simple tracker (like a fitness band) to record your movement and how you travel to and from work or university. This helps the researchers understand your travel routines.

In addition to tracking your travel, some participants might be asked to provide more detailed health information. This could involve having measurements taken like your blood pressure, blood sugar, and checking for things like your weight or activity levels. You might also be asked to provide information about the air quality around you during your commute. The study aims to link your travel data with these health details.

Potential risks and benefits

Every study has potential benefits and risks. A potential benefit of joining this study is helping researchers understand how our daily travel choices affect our health, which could lead to better ways to encourage healthier living for many people. You might also gain a better awareness of your own activity levels and health markers. As for risks, these are generally low in observational studies like this, as there are no new treatments or medications involved. Any health measurements taken would be routine and typically safe. You would be fully informed about what's involved before taking part, and you always have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason.

Locations (1)

Hannover Medical School
Verified postcode
Hanover, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'active mobility'?

Active mobility simply means using your own energy to get around, like walking, cycling, or scooting, rather than using a car or bus.

Will I have to do any special exercises?

No, you won't be asked to do any special exercises. The study is interested in your everyday travel to work or university.

How will my health be checked?

Your health might be checked through measurements like your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar, which are common health indicators.

Do I have to live in Germany to take part?

Yes, this specific study is taking place in Hannover, Germany, and you need to live within 50km of your workplace or university there.

What if I decide I don't want to be in the study anymore?

You are free to leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

How to find out more

Sven Haufe, PD Dr.

haufe.sven@mh-hannover.de 00495115325499 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.