[Cooperative planning of measures to promote physical activity : New paths for expanding capabilities-results from the Capital4Health research consortium]. / Kooperative Planung von Maßnahmen zur Bewegungsförderung : Neue Wege zur Erweiterung von Handlungsmöglichkeiten ­ Ergebnisse aus dem Forschungsverbund Capital4Health.

BACKGROUND: Despite various national and international political initiatives for promoting physical activity at the population level, the development of effective interventions for physical activity promotion remains a challenge. In this context, there is a growing interest in participatory approaches that actively involve central setting actors in the development of specific measures. AIM OF THE ARTICLE: This article reports on the experience made by the Capital4Health research consortium while using a participatory approach called "cooperative planning" to increase capabilities for physical activity across different age groups. RESULTS: Capital4Health employed the cooperative planning approach in the childcare, school, vocational training (car mechatronics and nursing), and community setting (with a focus on men 50+). While the central elements of the approach were implemented in all settings, planning processes varied significantly with respect to the spectrum of involved actors, the number of participants and sessions, the specific measures developed, the evaluation methods, and the effects achieved at an individual and systems level. CONCLUSION: From the perspective of the Capital4Health principal investigators, the preliminary empirical results from the different settings allow for the overall conclusion that the cooperative planning approach can work and generate health promotion impact in very different settings. However, it must (and can) be adapted to the respective setting, especially in relation to involving population groups. Actors' readiness for change is crucial, as physical activity does not always have top priority in settings. In this context, key individuals can make a decisive contribution to a project's success.

Effects of a Participatory School-Based Intervention on Students' Health-Related Knowledge and Understanding.

Introduction: The development of knowledge and understanding in relation to movement and health is a basic requirement to facilitate lifelong engagement in physical activity with its accompanying possible health benefits. To train teachers in applying adequate strategies, implementation studies have often shown little acceptance of traditional top-down approaches. Thus, the purpose of the Health.edu project was to develop, implement and evaluate effective and feasible measures addressing students' health-related knowledge and understanding (HKU) in physical education (PE) via a participatory approach. Materials and Methods: For evaluation, a controlled pre-post-test study with 233 students from eight different secondary schools in Germany was carried out. Four schools (with two PE teachers at each school) comprised the intervention group and they participated in a 1-year participatory planning process to conceptualize and implement evidence-based PE lessons addressing students' HKU. Control schools carried out their regular PE lessons. Evaluation followed a mixed-methods research design, assessing program implementation via written documentary technique as well as program effectiveness using a standardized questionnaire. Results: Results show a significant intervention effect on students' HKU with a medium effect size. However, due to the participatory process, there were considerable differences between the intervention schools that were involved. Student's HKU improved most in schools where program implementation corresponded to relevant principles of fostering HKU. Discussion: The present study purposefully dispensed with any structured intervention programs for PE teachers to follow. The results show the potential effects of this participatory approach to strengthen student's HKU. However, the participatory planning does not always work in the intended manner, emphasizing that numerous contextual factors influence the implementation process.

Health promotion by means of health sport--a framework and a controlled intervention study with sedentary adults.

Only 10-20% of adults in industrialized countries reach the health-related minimum level of a consumption of energy of more than 800 kcal week(-1), additional to activities of daily living. The objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the impact of a health-promoting exercise program for sedentary adults on medical and subjective health status and on behavioral changes. The first 12 months of the study (t1-t2) consisted of a structured intervention exercise program. After this period, participants had the opportunity to stay in a follow-up-program or to change to other programs of the same club for further 12 months (t2-t3). Within these 2 years data have been collected from the intervention group (117 subjects) and control group (40 subjects). It can be shown that on the basis of a structured intervention (one session per week, 90 min, for 1 year), a stable behavioral change is reached with positive effects on fitness status, risk factors and mental health. Contrary to findings in other studies, the average health effects are at least stable in the second year in this study.