HEPA Europe working group: HEPA promotion in health care settings
Physical activity (PA) is recommended to prevent and manage chronic diseases. The health system provides unique opportunities for PA promotion. Accordingly, WHO’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030 recommends implementing “systems of patient assessment and counselling on PA in primary and secondary health care and social services”. Therefore, patient assessment and counselling on increasing PA and reducing sedentary behaviour in primary, secondary, continuity and palliative care should be developed and implemented.
The working group aims to build a solid, inclusive, and international network to share experiences, provide guidelines, and foster and/or initiate research on PA promotion in health-care settings.
The activities of the working group include (but are not limited to):
- identifying and sharing experiences in HEPA promotion in health-care settings (for example, via symposia at the annual HEPA Europe conference);
- collaborating on scientific projects; and
- advocating to policy-makers.
The working group is led by:
- Professor Suzanne McDonough (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland)
- Dr Wolfgang Geidl (University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany)
The liaison officer between the working group and the HEPA Europe Steering Committee is Dr Alexis Lion (Fédération Luxembourgeoise des Associations de Sport de Santé, Strassen Luxembourg).