Path Environment Audit Tool (PEAT) Materials

• Path Environment Audit Tool
• Manual

Citation

Troped, P.J., Cromley, E.K., Fragala, M.S., Melly, S.J., Hasbrouck, H.H., Gortmaker, S.L., et al. (2006). Development and reliability and validity testing of an audit tool for trail/path characteristics: The Path Environment Audit Tool (PEAT). Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 3, Suppl 1, S158-S175.

Background

To determine how trail characteristics may influence use, reliable and valid audit tools are needed.

Methods

The Path Environment Audit Tool (PEAT) was developed with design, amenity, and aesthetics/maintenance items. Two observers independently audited 185 trail segments at 6 Massachusetts facilities. GPS-derived items were used as a “gold standard.” Kappa (k) statistics, observed agreement and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to assess inter-observer reliability and validity.

Results

Fifteen of 16 primary amenity items had k-values = 0.49 (“moderate”) and all had observed agreement = 81%. Seven binary design items had k-values ranging from 0.19 to 0.71 and three of 5 ordinal items had ICCs = 0.52. Only two aesthetics/maintenance items (n = 7) had moderate ICCs. Observed agreement between PEAT and GPS items was = 0.77; k-values were = 0.57 for 7 out of 10 comparisons.

Conclusions

PEAT has acceptable reliability for most of its primary items and appears ready for use by researchers and practitioners.