Older People’s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT): A complementary participatory and metric approach to the development of an observational environmental measure

Vanessa Burholt; Matthew Steven Roberts; Charles Brian Alexander Musselwhite

doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3681-x

Older People’s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT): A complementary participatory and metric approach to the development of an observational environmental measure

Vanessa Burholt^* (Corresponding Author)
, Matthew Steven Roberts
, Charles Brian Alexander Musselwhite

^*Corresponding author for this work

Swansea University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background
The potential for environmental interventions to improve health and wellbeing has assumed particular importance in the face of unprecedented population ageing. However, presently observational environmental assessment tools are unsuitable for ‘all ages’. This article describes the development of the Older People’s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT).

Methods
Potential items were identified through review and consultation with an Expert Advisory Group. Items were ranked according the importance ascribed to them by older people who responded to a survey distributed by 50+ forum in Wales (N = 545). 40 highly ranked items were selected for the OPERAT pilot. An observational assessment was conducted in 405 postcodes in Wales. Items validated with data from a survey of older residents (N = 500) in the postcode areas were selected for statistical modelling (Kendall’s Tau-b, p
Results
A four factor model was selected as the best interpretable fit to the data. The domains were named Natural Elements, Incivilities and Nuisance; Navigation and Mobility; and Territorial Functioning. Statistical tests demonstrated good internal consistency, convergent validity, utility and inter-rater reliability.

Conclusions
Participatory approaches to research and robust statistical testing are not mutually exclusive. OPERAT can be used to assess the suitability of external residential environments for older people with different physical and cognitive capacities, living in rural or urban areas. OPERAT can be used to help plan residential environments that are friendly for all ages.

Original language	English
Article number	1022
Number of pages	14
Journal	BMC Public Health
Volume	16
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3681-x
Publication status	Published - 29 Sept 2016
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

built environment
ENVIRONMENT
ageing
Gerontology
Environment design
Environment policy
Residence characteristics
Neighbourhood
Environment
Environment and public health
Aged
Domicile
Community

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Cite this

@article{233fdf5f55164573801f411878cd3423,

title = "Older People{\textquoteright}s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT): A complementary participatory and metric approach to the development of an observational environmental measure",

abstract = "Background The potential for environmental interventions to improve health and wellbeing has assumed particular importance in the face of unprecedented population ageing. However, presently observational environmental assessment tools are unsuitable for {\textquoteleft}all ages{\textquoteright}. This article describes the development of the Older People{\textquoteright}s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT). Methods Potential items were identified through review and consultation with an Expert Advisory Group. Items were ranked according the importance ascribed to them by older people who responded to a survey distributed by 50+ forum in Wales (N = 545). 40 highly ranked items were selected for the OPERAT pilot. An observational assessment was conducted in 405 postcodes in Wales. Items validated with data from a survey of older residents (N = 500) in the postcode areas were selected for statistical modelling (Kendall{\textquoteright}s Tau-b, p Results A four factor model was selected as the best interpretable fit to the data. The domains were named Natural Elements, Incivilities and Nuisance; Navigation and Mobility; and Territorial Functioning. Statistical tests demonstrated good internal consistency, convergent validity, utility and inter-rater reliability. Conclusions Participatory approaches to research and robust statistical testing are not mutually exclusive. OPERAT can be used to assess the suitability of external residential environments for older people with different physical and cognitive capacities, living in rural or urban areas. OPERAT can be used to help plan residential environments that are friendly for all ages.",

keywords = "built environment, ENVIRONMENT, ageing, Gerontology, Environment design, Environment policy, Residence characteristics, Neighbourhood, Environment, Environment and public health, Aged, Domicile, Community",

author = "Vanessa Burholt and Roberts, \{Matthew Steven\} and Musselwhite, \{Charles Brian Alexander\}",

note = "Funding Information: Older People{\textquoteright}s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT) study was funded by the National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (NISCHR-SC-12-13) now called Health and Care Research Wales. Funding Information: VB (Bsc, PhD, FAcSS) is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. She is Professor of Gerontology, Director of the Centre for Innovative Ageing (CIA) in the College of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University. VB also leads the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research (CADR) (funded by the Welsh Government): a pan-Wales world class research centre addressing key internationally important questions in ageing and dementia. The Centre integrates multi-disciplinary activity and develops areas of expertise from biological, through psycho-social and environmental, to social policy in ageing and dementia. VB{\textquoteright}s research focuses on older people{\textquoteright}s attachment to people and places and she has published over 50 papers and book chapters on rurality, loneliness, support networks, intergenerational relationships, ethnicity and migration. VB has 20 years{\textquoteright} experience of research, cutting her teeth on the 20-year Bangor Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Over the last 5 years, she has worked on and led research projects worth approximately £20 M including ESRC-funded (RES-353-25-0011) Grey and Pleasant Land? An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Connectivity of Older People in Rural Civic Society; ESRC (RES-060-25-0060) and HEFCW funded study {\textquoteleft}Maintaining function and well-being in later life: a longitudinal cohort study (known as Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (Wales)) and AHRC funded (AH/K00333X/1) Dementia and imagination: Connecting communities and developing well-being through socially engaged visual arts practice. She holds a public appointment on the Ministerial Advisory Forum on Ageing (Wales); is in an Expert Advisor on loneliness and isolation for Ageing Well in Wales (the Strategy for Older People); and is co-Chair of the research hub of the Campaign to End Loneliness. Outputs from VB{\textquoteright}s research are used to improve the quality of life and promote the welfare of older people. MR (BscEcon PhD) is a research assistant in the Centre for Innovative Ageing, at Swansea University, and works with the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research (CADR). MR has a particular interest in the influence of lifestyle behaviours on cognitive function, as well as the impact of the built environment on the health and wellbeing of older people. He is a member of the British Society of Gerontology. MR has presented his research at a number of national and international conferences. CBM is Associate Professor in Gerontology at the Centre for Innovative Ageing (CIA) at Swansea University and heads-up the Environments and Ageing research strand. He has particular interests in ageing, travel and transport, addressing technological, environmental, health and sustainability contexts of transportation and built environment. He advises the Parliamentary Council for Transport Safety on older people{\textquoteright}s transport issues and is an executive board member of the British Society of Gerontology and Editor of Generations Review. His research on older people and their travel and driving behaviour has involved several invited international and national presentations at conferences and invited presentations to the House of Commons and House of Lords. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 The Author(s).",

year = "2016",

month = sep,

day = "29",

doi = "10.1186/s12889-016-3681-x",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

journal = "BMC Public Health",

issn = "1471-2458",

publisher = "Springer Nature",

number = "1",

}

Older People’s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT): A complementary participatory and metric approach to the development of an observational environmental measure. / Burholt, Vanessa (Corresponding Author); Roberts, Matthew Steven; Musselwhite, Charles Brian Alexander.
In: BMC Public Health, Vol. 16, No. 1, 1022, 29.09.2016.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Older People’s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT)

T2 - A complementary participatory and metric approach to the development of an observational environmental measure

AU - Burholt, Vanessa

AU - Roberts, Matthew Steven

AU - Musselwhite, Charles Brian Alexander

N1 - Funding Information: Older People’s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT) study was funded by the National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (NISCHR-SC-12-13) now called Health and Care Research Wales. Funding Information: VB (Bsc, PhD, FAcSS) is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. She is Professor of Gerontology, Director of the Centre for Innovative Ageing (CIA) in the College of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University. VB also leads the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research (CADR) (funded by the Welsh Government): a pan-Wales world class research centre addressing key internationally important questions in ageing and dementia. The Centre integrates multi-disciplinary activity and develops areas of expertise from biological, through psycho-social and environmental, to social policy in ageing and dementia. VB’s research focuses on older people’s attachment to people and places and she has published over 50 papers and book chapters on rurality, loneliness, support networks, intergenerational relationships, ethnicity and migration. VB has 20 years’ experience of research, cutting her teeth on the 20-year Bangor Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Over the last 5 years, she has worked on and led research projects worth approximately £20 M including ESRC-funded (RES-353-25-0011) Grey and Pleasant Land? An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Connectivity of Older People in Rural Civic Society; ESRC (RES-060-25-0060) and HEFCW funded study ‘Maintaining function and well-being in later life: a longitudinal cohort study (known as Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (Wales)) and AHRC funded (AH/K00333X/1) Dementia and imagination: Connecting communities and developing well-being through socially engaged visual arts practice. She holds a public appointment on the Ministerial Advisory Forum on Ageing (Wales); is in an Expert Advisor on loneliness and isolation for Ageing Well in Wales (the Strategy for Older People); and is co-Chair of the research hub of the Campaign to End Loneliness. Outputs from VB’s research are used to improve the quality of life and promote the welfare of older people. MR (BscEcon PhD) is a research assistant in the Centre for Innovative Ageing, at Swansea University, and works with the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research (CADR). MR has a particular interest in the influence of lifestyle behaviours on cognitive function, as well as the impact of the built environment on the health and wellbeing of older people. He is a member of the British Society of Gerontology. MR has presented his research at a number of national and international conferences. CBM is Associate Professor in Gerontology at the Centre for Innovative Ageing (CIA) at Swansea University and heads-up the Environments and Ageing research strand. He has particular interests in ageing, travel and transport, addressing technological, environmental, health and sustainability contexts of transportation and built environment. He advises the Parliamentary Council for Transport Safety on older people’s transport issues and is an executive board member of the British Society of Gerontology and Editor of Generations Review. His research on older people and their travel and driving behaviour has involved several invited international and national presentations at conferences and invited presentations to the House of Commons and House of Lords. Publisher Copyright: © 2016 The Author(s).

PY - 2016/9/29

Y1 - 2016/9/29

N2 - Background The potential for environmental interventions to improve health and wellbeing has assumed particular importance in the face of unprecedented population ageing. However, presently observational environmental assessment tools are unsuitable for ‘all ages’. This article describes the development of the Older People’s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT). Methods Potential items were identified through review and consultation with an Expert Advisory Group. Items were ranked according the importance ascribed to them by older people who responded to a survey distributed by 50+ forum in Wales (N = 545). 40 highly ranked items were selected for the OPERAT pilot. An observational assessment was conducted in 405 postcodes in Wales. Items validated with data from a survey of older residents (N = 500) in the postcode areas were selected for statistical modelling (Kendall’s Tau-b, p Results A four factor model was selected as the best interpretable fit to the data. The domains were named Natural Elements, Incivilities and Nuisance; Navigation and Mobility; and Territorial Functioning. Statistical tests demonstrated good internal consistency, convergent validity, utility and inter-rater reliability. Conclusions Participatory approaches to research and robust statistical testing are not mutually exclusive. OPERAT can be used to assess the suitability of external residential environments for older people with different physical and cognitive capacities, living in rural or urban areas. OPERAT can be used to help plan residential environments that are friendly for all ages.

AB - Background The potential for environmental interventions to improve health and wellbeing has assumed particular importance in the face of unprecedented population ageing. However, presently observational environmental assessment tools are unsuitable for ‘all ages’. This article describes the development of the Older People’s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT). Methods Potential items were identified through review and consultation with an Expert Advisory Group. Items were ranked according the importance ascribed to them by older people who responded to a survey distributed by 50+ forum in Wales (N = 545). 40 highly ranked items were selected for the OPERAT pilot. An observational assessment was conducted in 405 postcodes in Wales. Items validated with data from a survey of older residents (N = 500) in the postcode areas were selected for statistical modelling (Kendall’s Tau-b, p Results A four factor model was selected as the best interpretable fit to the data. The domains were named Natural Elements, Incivilities and Nuisance; Navigation and Mobility; and Territorial Functioning. Statistical tests demonstrated good internal consistency, convergent validity, utility and inter-rater reliability. Conclusions Participatory approaches to research and robust statistical testing are not mutually exclusive. OPERAT can be used to assess the suitability of external residential environments for older people with different physical and cognitive capacities, living in rural or urban areas. OPERAT can be used to help plan residential environments that are friendly for all ages.

KW - built environment

KW - ENVIRONMENT

KW - ageing

KW - Gerontology

KW - Environment design

KW - Environment policy

KW - Residence characteristics

KW - Neighbourhood

KW - Environment

KW - Environment and public health

KW - Aged

KW - Domicile

KW - Community

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84988815119

U2 - 10.1186/s12889-016-3681-x

DO - 10.1186/s12889-016-3681-x

M3 - Article

C2 - 27682428

SN - 1471-2458

VL - 16

JO - BMC Public Health

JF - BMC Public Health

IS - 1

M1 - 1022

ER -

Older People’s External Residential Assessment Tool (OPERAT): A complementary participatory and metric approach to the development of an observational environmental measure

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