Case-comparison study protocol for gauging effects of neighbourhood trends and sickness: examining the perceptions of transit-Induced gentrification in Prince George's County

Jennifer D Roberts; Shadi O Tehrani; Roger Isom Jr; Eric A Stone; Micah L Brachman; Valerie Newsome Garcia

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039733

Case-comparison study protocol for gauging effects of neighbourhood trends and sickness: examining the perceptions of transit-Induced gentrification in Prince George's County

BMJ Open. 2020 Oct 12;10(10):e039733. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039733.

Authors

Jennifer D Roberts¹, Shadi O Tehrani², Roger Isom Jr³, Eric A Stone³, Micah L Brachman⁴, Valerie Newsome Garcia⁵

Affiliations

¹ Kinesiology, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA jenrob@umd.edu.
² School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
³ Kinesiology, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA.
⁴ Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA.
⁵ Medical Education, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Impoverished neighbourhoods and communities of colour often bear the brunt of unintended transit-oriented development (TOD) impacts. These impacts have been known to come in the form of transit-induced gentrification (TIG), a socioeconomic by-product of TOD defined as a phenomenon that occurs when the provision of transit service, particularly light rail transit (LRT), 'up-scales' nearby neighbourhood(s) and displaces existing residents. Consequently, TIG or even the perception of TIG can impact health outcomes (eg, anxiety) and social determinants of health (SDOH) (eg, crime).

Methods/analysis: In 2022, the purple line (PL), a 16.2 mile LRT line, is opening in Prince George's County, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC, comprised of over 80% African American and Hispanic residents. By taking advantage of this natural experiment, we are proposing the GENTS (Gauging Effects of Neighborhood Trends and Sickness: Examining the Perceptions of Transit-Induced Gentrification in Prince George's County) Study in order to evaluate perceived TIG and associated health outcome and SDOH changes, at two points in time, among Prince George's County adults in a prospective case-comparison design during the pre-PL LRT period. Descriptive analysis and latent growth curve modelling will be used to examine these changes over time.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval has been granted by the University of Maryland Institutional Review Board. The GENTS Study will identify temporal changes in perceived TIG, health outcomes and SDOH among case and comparison residents before the completion and operation of the PL LRT, an under researched period of TOD. The dissemination of GENTS Study findings will be able to address research questions and policy issues that are specifically tailored to PG County while also providing more effective procedural solutions for other regions undergoing TOD and TIG risks.

Keywords: anxiety disorders; cardiac epidemiology; public health.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Case-Control Studies
Humans
Maryland
Perception*
Prospective Studies
Residence Characteristics*
Socioeconomic Factors
Transportation Facilities / economics*