Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40450277›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Barriers to active transport modes in Tehran, Iran: a qualitative study from the citizens' perspective.

Marjan Mirzania, Masud Yunesian, Farzaneh Gharibzadeh, Masoumeh Hasham Firooz, Ali Zahab Sanei, Payam Moeini

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Marjan MirzaniaDepartment of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Masud YunesianDepartment of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. yunesian@tums.ac.ir.
Farzaneh GharibzadehDepartment of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Masoumeh Hasham FiroozDepartment of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ali Zahab SaneiTransportation and Traffic Planning, Tehran Urban Planning and Research Center, Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran.
Payam MoeiniTransportation and Traffic Planning, Tehran Urban Planning and Research Center, Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA physical inactivity epidemic has been described as one of the greatest public health challenges. It accounts for 6% of deaths and is the fourth most common risk factor for mortality worldwide. Active transport (i.e. cycling and walking) has been identified as a key strategy for combating physical inactivity. Our aim was to explore the barriers to and perceptions of active transport modes in Tehran from the perspective of citizens.

methodsThis qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach, from April to November 2024. Twenty-five individual interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted with 18 residents of Tehran. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using content analysis in MAXQDA 18 software.

resultsParticipants mentioned walking in their daily lives, but never using a bicycle. Although cycling is not a widely used mode of transport among Tehran residents, it has been reported to be a clean and environmentally friendly mode of transport and an effective vehicle for reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. Walking was also considered a convenient mode of transport that could help save money. Three main themes were identified as barriers to active transport modes: (1) individual-level factors (e.g., lack of skills and confidence); (2) social and cultural-level factors (e.g., incompatibility of women's cycling with cultural conditions); and (3) environmental-level factors (e.g., poor infrastructure).

conclusionOur study found that there are multiple barriers to cycling and walking as active modes of transport at individual, social and cultural, and environmental levels. Thus, programs or policies promoting active transport modes are effective when they target a multi-component approach.

Indexed as

BicyclingTransportationWalkingAdultAgedFemaleFocus GroupsHumansInterviews as TopicIranMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchYoung AdultActive transportCyclingPhysical inactivityQualitative studyWalking

Identifiers

PMID40450277
PMCPMC12125771

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.