How to Disseminate National Recommendations for Physical Activity: a Qualitative Analysis of Critical Change Agents in Germany

Abstract

Background: Physical activity recommendations are only reached by a small part of the population. A common problem is that research findings on public health-related topics such as physical activity promotion are oftentimes not translated into practice. The involvement of relevant stakeholders, such as change agents (role models, decision-makers, and/or knowledge mediators), is a common strategy to implement physical activity recommendations in specific settings as they have the necessary knowledge of contextual factors. However, dissemination and implementation of physical activity recommendations are often prevented by focusing exclusively on the health sector and by underestimating the individual perceptions and needs of change agents. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to address the problem of how physical activity recommendations can be translated into practice through comprehensive consideration of the situation and context of change agents from various sectors of society at different administrative levels. The survey of change agents allows for deriving recommendations for action on how a national dissemination strategy of physical activity recommendations should be designed.Methods: Qualitative expert interviews were conducted with change agents from different sectors of society and administrative levels (N = 21). The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by two trained researchers using qualitative content analysis. Results: The change agents’ perceived relevance of physical activity and physical activity promotion as well as their knowledge of physical activity recommendations varied across different sectors of society. Nine themes were identified covering the change agents’ needs for the implementation of physical activity recommendations: Strengthening of political will and cooperation, availability of public space for physical activity, change of awareness and health education, professional qualification, financial incentives, development of physical activity promoting programs and structures, provision of resources, bridging the theory-practice gap, and knowledge of physical activity recommendations.Conclusions: This exploratory study contributes to the development of an evidence-based dissemination strategy of physical activity recommendations involving change agents from various sectors. Cross-sectoral needs and obstacles were identified indicating gaps that have to be addressed. Future research should choose practice-oriented approaches to develop dissemination strategies that are adapted to the needs of local contexts.

Disseminierung der Nationalen Bewegungsempfehlungen: Partizipative Entwicklung von Disseminierungsstrategien in Deutschland

“…International ist die Veröffentlichung von nationalen Empfehlungen für Bewegungsförderung eher unüblich und diese werden in der Regel nicht systematisch mit Empfehlungen für Bewegung verknüpft [28]. Der weitere Disseminierungsprozess kann neben den Ergebnissen dieser Forschungsarbeit auch auf einer weiteren aktuellen Studie aufbauen, in der Expertinnen und Experten mittels qualitativer Interviews zu den Bedürfnissen und Problemen ihrer Organisationen bei der Implementierung der Nationalen Empfehlungen für Bewegung und Bewegungsförderung befragt wurden [29].…”