The Impact of the Neighborhood Built Environment on the Commuting Patterns and Health of Patients with Chronic Diseases: A Case Study of Changshu, China

The health of patients with chronic diseases is affected not only by factors such as eating and living habits, but also the neighborhood built environment, travel conditions. Using 18 blocks in main urban area Changshu, China, we performed structural equation modelling, to explore relationships between commuting patterns diseases, patient health. We first divided into four categories—walking/biking, public transportation, electric vehicles/motorcycles, cars—and conducted a street-scale questionnaire survey. Secondly, ‘health’ three latent variables—physical health, mental healthy behavior—and analyzed influencing street environment. Finally, verified our theoretical framework through mathematical statistical analysis model. found that: (1) service facility, environmental quality, community safety perception environment significantly impacted patterns; (2) patient’s physical was correlated behaviors daily (3) socioeconomic attributes directly satisfaction, indirectly Neighborhood satisfaction there cross-influence relationship these factors. propose strengthening walkability connectivity improving awareness patients, their willingness participate behaviors.