Conference Agenda

Background: Higher education institutions (HEIs) are ideal settings for promoting physical activity (PA), yet implementation of effective programmes remains challenging. Using a three-study interlinked approach, this work aimed to develop innovative context-sensitive, practice-oriented resources to support implementation.

Methods: Initially, a qualitative study utilising the UK Medical Research Council (UK-MRC) Framework for complex interventions the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) explored the experiences of Health-Promoting University (HPU) stakeholders in delivering PA programmes in UK and Indonesia (n=34; service providers, service coordinators, policy makers, funders, and academics). Next, a comprehensive scoping review encompassing 74 reviews identified and mapped the determinants of PA programme implementation within HEIs, employing the CFIR and the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) frameworks. Finally, following Leask’s Framework, co-design workshops with stakeholders (n=10; policymakers, service coordinators, and academics) led to the development of a practical toolkit.

Results: Qualitative data from stakeholders generated 12 context-specific themes related to barriers to implementation of PA programmes including difficulties in locating relevant evidence and a lack of practical resources. Through evidence mapping, the review identified 13 context and implementation processes that may influence programme outcomes. Together, this formative work produced a determinant framework, which was then developed during the co-design study to create a theory and evidence-informed practical toolkit (ACTION toolkit) and accompanying resources.

Conclusions: Together, these studies offer a theory-informed, context-sensitive, and co-designed resource to support the implementation of PA promotion in higher education settings. Future work is required to enhance the toolkit’s generalisability through broader international collaboration.

Purpose

We examined leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and active commuting (AC) and their associations with subsequent sickness absence (SA) among young and early midlife employees.

Methods

The 2017 Helsinki Health Study survey among employees of the City of Helsinki aged 19–39 was prospectively linked to register-based data on total, short- and long-term sickness absence spells (2017–2020). LTPA (n=3,618) and AC (n=3,513) were assessed as weekly metabolic equivalent (MET) hours in 2017. LTPA was categorized into five groups based on intensity and weekly volume (inactivity, moderate, moderate-to-vigorous, vigorous and high vigorous) and AC into four groups (inactive, low moderate, moderate-to-vigorous, vigorous). Analyses were stratified by gender and adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors using negative binomial regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Women had more SA than men (135 vs 97 days per 10 person-years; p<0.001). Women with moderate-to-vigorous LTPA had, compared to the inactive, lower rates of total SA (IRR 0.69, 95% CI 0.60–0.80) short SA and long SA after full adjustments for covariates. Men with vigorous LTPA remained protective in total SA days (IRR 0.60, 95% CI 0.44–0.81) and short SA spells after adjustment. For AC, protective associations were observed only among women.

Conclusion

LTPA including vigorous-intensity activity was associated with lower SA over the follow-up, although patterns differed by gender and activity level. Associations for AC were weaker and confirmed for women only. Vigorous-intensity physical activity may be beneficial for reducing SA already in early working life.

Abstract: Occupational sedentariness remains a critical challenge, with office workers spending most of their day sitting. Prolonged inactivity is known to accelerate cellular ageing, as sedentary individuals often present telomeres equivalent to several years of additional biological age compared to active peers. The Bem Viver Programme at Fiocruz Ceará—a green-certified campus—integrates telomere science with clinical monitoring to promote health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA). A cross-sectional assessment of employees evaluated dietary patterns, sleep quality, and clinical markers, including fasting glucose and lipid profiles. Findings revealed that a significant portion of participants had pre-existing health conditions and specific dietary risks related to ultra-processed food intake. Statistically significant positive correlations were identified between body composition markers and glycaemic and lipid regulation. To address these risks, the "5 Daily Resets" tool was implemented, translating molecular evidence into behavioural prompts to reduce postprandial glycaemia through frequent standing breaks. Conclusions: The Bem Viver Programme demonstrates that telomere biology provides a robust framework for communicating HEPA benefits. Linking molecular science with clinical indicators and nutritional baseline data enhances institutional behaviour change strategies, offering a scalable model for non-communicable disease prevention in occupational settings.

Funding: CNPq-Universal_406583/2023-4

Abstract: Musculoskeletal disorders and psychological stress are primary drivers of work-related disability. This axis evaluates the integration of functional screening, circadian health, and stress resilience within the Bem Viver institutional framework at Fiocruz Ceará. Workers underwent muscle strength symmetry testing using handheld dynamometry. Additionally, participants were assessed for perceived stress and circadian synchronizers to identify behavioural determinants of biological clock regulation. Results identified clinically relevant strength asymmetry in a substantial proportion of participants, particularly in the lower limbs. Regarding psychosocial health, moderate levels of perceived stress and variability in coping capacity were observed among the group. Sleep quality analysis further revealed heterogeneous patterns and recurrent disturbances, including nocturnal awakenings. These functional and emotional imbalances are addressed through targeted physiotherapy and an educational framework focusing on the core synchronizers of the biological clock. Conclusions: The prevalence of functional asymmetry and stress variability underscores the need for integrated screening in occupational health. By combining objective physical metrics with psychosocial indicators, the Bem Viver Programme provides data-driven interventions to improve muscular balance, recovery, and overall worker resilience.

Background

Following the integration of physical activity-related health competence (PAHCO) into the Bavarian nursing education curriculum in 2020, the TakeCare! project investigated strategies promoting PAHCO in a cluster-randomized study involving 16 nursing schools allocated to three intervention groups (IG1-IG3) and a control group (CG). IG1 implemented participatorily-developed interventions. IG2 and IG3 implemented an expert-developed intervention, delivered by physical activity professionals (IG2) and teachers (IG3). The CG received no systematic intervention. This contribution examined transferability of implementation and effectiveness to subsequent student cohorts.

Methods

Implementation was evaluated using a mixed-methods approach, collecting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data from school project coordinators (n=16). To investigate effectiveness, questionnaire-based data on students’ PAHCO (n=315) were collected at the beginning and end of the training year and analysed using linear models (ANOVA).

Results

In the long term, IG1 schools implemented about half of the participatorily-developed components, where in IG2 and IG3, two schools each continued individual intervention content. The remaining IG3 schools further implemented single components, while the other schools in IG2 discontinued the intervention. At student level, no significant time-group interaction effect was found for PAHCO sub-competencies (p>.05).

Conclusions

Especially in IG1 and IG2, parts of the interventions were continued, allowing subsequent cohorts to benefit. However, the interventions’ effectiveness has not been demonstrated. The findings will inform Bavarian-wide implementation recommendations, supporting practitioners and policymakers in establishing the promotion of PAHCO.

Support/Funding Source

The Bavarian State Ministry of Health, Care and Prevention and the German health insurance company KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse provided funding.

Background and Purpose:
Healthcare professionals are exposed to demanding work conditions and occupational stress, which can have a negative effect on their mental wellbeing. The promotion of workplace physical activity for healthcare professionals in low- and middle-income countries is limited, highlighting the need for further research in this context. Promoting health-enhancing physical activity within the workplace of healthcare professionals can result in a positive impact on health outcomes. This study was conducted to measure the level of physical activity among hospital nurses, the association with their mental wellbeing, and the barriers to engaging in workplace physical activity.

Methods:
A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 nurses working in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. The research instrument used to collect data was a structured questionnaire that measured the level of physical activity, workplace support for physical activity, and the wellbeing of the nurses using a wellbeing scale.

Results:
Approximately 26% of participants met the recommended level of physical activity. Nurses who engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reported significantly higher levels of mental wellbeing compared with those who were less physically active. The most commonly reported barriers to physical activity included long working hours, fatigue after work shifts, and limited access to exercise facilities within the workplace.

Conclusions:
Promotion of physical activity among healthcare work environments could help to improve the wellbeing of the staff. This could result in a healthy workforce.

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) is essential for health and wellbeing in people with long-term conditions (LTCs), yet maintaining PA over time remains challenging, particularly in the presence of multimorbidity and socioeconomic disadvantage. While many interventions focus on PA initiation, less is known about strategies that support long-term maintenance in community settings beyond clinical rehabilitation. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesise community-based interventions that support PA maintenance among adults with one or more LTCs.

Methods: OVID Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and grey literature databases were searched for quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies published between 2012 and 2026. The review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Two reviewers independently screened studies and one reviewer extracted data. Studies were classified as either natural history studies, examining maintenance following intervention withdrawal, or maintenance intervention studies, which included ongoing strategies to support PA behaviour.

Results: Of 6,574 records identified, 26 studies from 10 countries met the inclusion criteria. Over half were published since 2016. Cancer, COPD and type 2 diabetes were the most frequently studied LTCs. Although 38% of studies included participants with multiple LTCs, few adapted interventions for multimorbidity. Fifteen studies were classified as natural history studies and 11 as maintenance interventions. Settings included fitness centres, community facilities, charities and walking groups. Common behaviour change strategies included goal setting, self-monitoring, PA diaries, motivational support, education and relapse prevention. Ten studies reported no theoretical underpinning.

Conclusions: This review is the first to distinguish PA maintenance interventions from natural history studies. Evidence largely focuses on single conditions, highlighting the need for research targeting multimorbidity, longer-term follow-up, participant experiences, and clearer reporting of maintenance strategies and mechanisms.

Funding: A UK Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) grant was supported by an Undergraduate Research Internship at the University of Southampton.