Conference Agenda
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Union2_2: Symposium: Embedding health-enhancing physical activity promotion in health care: Competencies, systems, and practice. Location: Grand Hotel Union Session Chair: Wolfgang Geidl Session Chair: Suzanne Mc Donough | |
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Embedding health-enhancing physical activity promotion in health care: Competencies, systems, and practice. Background and aim In many countries, HEPA promotion still depends on individual initiatives rather than systematic pathways. Barriers include insufficient professional competencies, limited behaviour change skills, lack of service specifications, and weak organisational embedding of PA promotion within care structures. Evidence increasingly shows that PA is relevant for a broader range of patient groups than traditionally addressed, including people with mental health conditions. However, these populations are often insufficiently reached by existing programmes due to missing structured pathways and limited professional training. This symposium brings together initiatives from Finland, Ireland and Germany addressing these challenges at complementary levels of the health system. Summary of Contributions • Aittasalo presents the development of a study module in Finland that integrates HEPA promotion into professional education. • Bláthín targets how training in PA behaviour change skills can increase professionals’ confidence and PA signposting practices in Ireland. • Bláthín then presents national commissioning standards for structured PA programmes to improve referral pathways • Grüne introduces a German co-creation project (STABEKO) showing how movement-based therapies in rehabilitation can be adapted to better support sustainable PA. • Sudeck presents results from the German ImPuls trial highlighting the relevance of HEPA promotion for patients with mental health conditions. Added Value Conclusion and Key Take-Home Messages
Overall, the symposium demonstrates how HEPA promotion can be operationalised as a routine part of health care delivery, contributing to improved population health, patient outcomes and more sustainable health systems. Presentations of the Symposium Strengthening social and health care professionals' competence to promote physical activity and healthy diet Purpose: Competence in promoting physical activity (PA) and healthy nutrition varies substantially among social and health care professionals, partly due to limited emphasis on these themes in education. Inadequate competence can reduce motivation and the effectiveness of professionals’ health promotion efforts, hindering the use of PA and nutrition as key strategies for improving population health. To strengthen these competencies, the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has launched a national initiative in the Get Finland Moving Programme to develop a study module for education in social and health care. Methods: The module is being designed by a ministry-appointed expert group representing educational institutions and health promotion specialists. Development from January to Fall 2026 draws on evidence regarding required competencies, effective pedagogical methods, behaviour change strategies, and existing health promotion frameworks. Evaluation covers the development process, pilot testing, implementation, and dissemination. Results: The module will include a general component and profession-specific sections. Its scope, content, and practical applicability will be refined through a pilot involving at least three universities of applied sciences, focusing on programmes where health promotion is currently underrepresented. Adoption will be supported through national-level actions by the ministry and institutional measures within higher education. The module will be updated regularly. Conclusions: The initiative is expected to harmonise education on PA and healthy nutrition, enhance professionals’ capacity to promote these behaviours, and ultimately contribute to improved population health and health system sustainability. Keywords: Health professionals, education, diet, physical activity Funding: Supported by Finnish Government’s Get Finland Moving initiative. Developing standards for Structured Physical Activity Programmes in the Irish Health Service Primary Purpose: The Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland published a Physical Activity Pathways in Healthcare Model (PAPHM) in 2024. This model includes a tiered approach to physical activity interventions, detailing 4 tiers for active participation. Tier 2 references exercise referral schemes which are defined as structured physical activity programmes in the model. A key recommendation was identified to develop national specifications related to the commissioning of these services. This abstract details the development of these standards, and presents the final document. Methods: The development of the standards is grounded in the evidence base for exercise referral schemes and stakeholder consultation with key stakeholders involved in referral, commissioning and service provision of such programmes in Ireland. The development and consultation process occurred during Summer 2024-December 2025 via iterative rounds of consultation and feedback. Implementation and monitoring is planned in 2026. Results: The commissioning standards have been developed. They detail 5 categories including; referral, post-referral, programme, quality, and reporting and monitoring. The standards place an emphasis on physical activity being safe for most people, aiming to reduce over-medicalisation of referral to such services. However, themes related to ‘funding’, ‘legality/responsibility’, ‘processes’ remain a barrier. Conclusions: Commissioning standards for the provision of Tier 2, structured physical activity services, have been developed in Ireland. Next steps include; implementation of the standards across all health regions in Ireland, and targeting identified barriers such as developing a business case proposal to support the funding of such services. No funding or support The development and preliminary evaluation of a PA Behaviour Change Skills Short Course for Healthcare Professionals Primary Purpose: In December 2024, the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland published the ‘Physical Activity Pathways in Healthcare Model (PAPHM)’ which details a range of organisational enablers that aim to build capacity to implement a physical activity pathway. One such enabler is healthcare professional training. This abstract details the development and preliminary evaluation of a physical activity behaviour change short course for primary care healthcare professionals. Methods: An expert working group, including national and international experts in physical activity behaviour change, was established in Spring 2023. This group also had representation from target healthcare professionals and patient voice. In January 2024, the course was launched as a 3-month hybrid offering. It includes an embedded pragmatic service evaluation, with constructs such as demographics, knowledge and skills explored pre and post. Results: To date, there has been 353 enrolments, with 120 enrolments on offer in 2026. There remains an active waitlist. Preliminary data shows a significant change in confidence (35% vs 61% ‘very confident’; p < 0.003), and signposting behaviours pre and post course (52% vs 71%, ‘always/often’; p<0.001), with qualitative data highlighting course acceptance and positive experience. Further detailed analysis will be available in Summer 2026 for >400 participants. Conclusion: Lack of confidence and knowledge of signposting opportunities are recognised barriers for healthcare professionals promoting physical activity. Preliminary data shows a positive trend in healthcare professional behaviour change (confidence and physical activity signposting behaviours). Ongoing evaluation aims to explore if these changes are maintained at a longer-term follow-up. No funding Modifying movement-based therapies in German medical rehabilitation to promote a physically active lifestyle using a co-creation approach Background Movement-based therapies aim to enable individuals to engage in physical activity (PA) independently. However, many patients struggle to maintain PA after rehabilitation, highlighting the need for concepts emphasizing sustainable PA. The STABEKO study uses co-creationh involving practitioners and researchers to develop actions for modifying movement-based therapies to promote sustainable PA in three German rehabilitation centres. This contribution examines the co-creation processes and resulting actions for PA promotion. Methods Co-creation processes were documented in structured minutes (n=17), and developed actions were recorded in action plans (n=3). Practitioners assessed the co-creation processes via questionnaire (n=44). Data were analysed descriptively and through document analysis. Results Each rehabilitation centre conducted 5 to 6 co-creation meetings, with an average of 18 participants per meeting. A total of 25 actions were developed in the centres, assigned to four fields: (1) qualification and team development, (2) optimization of structures and processes, (3) PA promotion programs, and (4) strengthening patient participation. Practitioners rated organization, scientific input, and practitioner involvement very positively, and considered the process and its outcome appropriate and good. Conclusions A co-creation approach proved suitable for developing actions to modify movement-based therapies. Implementation and effects on sustainable PA promotion will be evaluated in an ongoing effectiveness-implementation study. Based on the overall findings, a dissemination strategy will be developed, guiding and enabling practitioners and policymakers to modify movement-based therapies to promote sustainable PA. Funding Funded by the German Pension Insurance, Sections Southern Bavaria and Northern Bavaria. Keywords Health Care Setting, Participation, Physical Activity-related Health Competence Authors Physical activity-related health competence as a potential mechanism of change in a transdiagnostic exercise intervention (ImPuls) for mental health outpatients Purpose of the study To analyse effects of the transdiagnostic group-exercise intervention ImPuls for outpatients with mental disorders on changes in physical activity-related health competence (PAHCO) and their mediating role on mental health and exercise behaviour. Methods This study is a secondary analysis of a pragmatic RCT. Individuals with major depressive disorders, insomnia, agoraphobia, panic disorder, or PTSD (n = 400), were randomly assigned to either the ImPuls intervention plus treatment-as-usual or treatment-as-usual alone. Assessments were realized at baseline, post-intervention (6 months) and 12 months follow-up. Assessments included four sub-dimensions of PAHCO (control competence for physical training, PA-specific affect regulation, motivational competence, volitional self-control), exercise behaviour (BSA-Q) and global symptom severity (BSI-18). Analysis: Linear mixed models estimated intervention effects on PAHCO and mediation models tested indirect effects of the intervention on global symptom severity and exercise behaviour via sub-dimensions of PAHCO. Results Intervention effects were observed for all PAHCO sub-dimensions post-intervention (ps<.01; 0.44≤ d≤ 0.61) and at follow-up (ps≤.01; 0.30≤d≤0.46). Volitional self-control mediated effects on exercise behaviour (indirect effects: p<.05), while changes in PA-specific affect regulation mediated intervention effects on global symptom severity (indirect effect: p<.05). Conclusions Core components of the ImPuls intervention combining supervised outdoor aerobic exercise and behaviour change techniques in group sessions led to the promotion of PAHCO, indicating a relevant mechanism for intervention effects on mental health and exercise behaviour. Funding Supported by the German Innovation Fund of the Federal Joint Committee of Germany. Keywords Exercise Therapy, Health Literacy, Healthy Lifestyle, Mental Disorders, Behaviour Change | |
