Towards the integration and development of a cross-European research network and infrastructure: the DEterminants of DIet and Physical ACtivity (DEDIPAC) Knowledge Hub

Abstract

To address major societal challenges and enhance cooperation in research across Europe, the European Commission has initiated and facilitated ‘joint programming’. Joint programming is a process by which Member States engage in defining, developing and implementing a common strategic research agenda, based on a shared vision of how to address major societal challenges that no Member State is capable of resolving independently. Setting up a Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) should also contribute to avoiding unnecessary overlap and repetition of research, and enable and enhance the development and use of standardised research methods, procedures and data management. The Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity (DEDIPAC) Knowledge Hub (KH) is the first act of the European JPI ‘A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life’. The objective of DEDIPAC is to contribute to improving understanding of the determinants of dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. DEDIPAC KH is a multi-disciplinary consortium of 46 consortia and organisations supported by joint programming grants from 12 countries across Europe. The work is divided into three thematic areas: (I) assessment and harmonisation of methods for future research, surveillance and monitoring, and for evaluation of interventions and policies; (II) determinants of dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviours across the life course and in vulnerable groups; and (III) evaluation and benchmarking of public health and policy interventions aimed at improving dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. In the first three years, DEDIPAC KH will organise, develop, share and harmonise expertise, methods, measures, data and other infrastructure. This should further European research and improve the broad multi-disciplinary approach needed to study the interactions between multilevel determinants in influencing dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Insights will be translated into more effective interventions and policies for the promotion of healthier behaviours and more effective monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of such interventions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12966-014-0143-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Using concept mapping in the development of the EU-PAD framework (EUropean-Physical Activity Determinants across the life course): a DEDIPAC-study

“…The practical relevance of the EU-PAD framework subsumes the resulting theoretical evidence as a sound basis for practical decision-making [20], and urges policy makers and scholars from different disciplines to coordinate their efforts in bridging existing gaps between sciences, practices, and policies in the HEPA area [57]. Thus, the results of this initiative could potentially contribute to the development of a strategic plan for both research and policies at a Pan-European level, and ultimately to more effective European policies and actions in promoting positive PA behaviours [19]. …”

“…To address the complex social and health phenomenon of healthy lifestyles behaviours in Europe, the European Commission endorsed a Joint Programming Initiative to increase research capacity across Member States to engage in a common research agenda [18]. Twelve Member States adopted this strategy and supported the DEDIPAC-KH to realise joint collaboration and harmonisation among different scientific disciplines, to expand knowledge, to develop new insights and solutions in the stated domains of behaviours, and to prepare the ground for building a coherent approach towards diet and PA behaviours research at European level [19]. Within the DEDIPAC-KH, a cross-disciplinary team coordinated and integrated collaborative research efforts to address the theoretical and practical challenges related to the determinants of PA behaviours and their changes across the life course.…”

Associations of self-reported physical activity and anxiety symptoms and status among 7,874 Irish adults across harmonised datasets: a DEDIPAC-study

“…The selection of participating studies has been described elsewhere [44]. Briefly, the platform for the current research was the DEterminants of DIet and Physical ACtivity Knowledge Hub (DEDIPAC-KH) [45,46]. Within DEDIPAC, accessible cross-sectional datasets with relevant data on physical activity and anxiety were identified in a large compendium for harmonisation [47].…”

Identifying and sharing data for secondary data analysis of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and their determinants across the life course in Europe: general principles and an example from DEDIPAC

“…[15][16][17][18] To address this challenge, one of the aims of the European Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity (DEDIPAC) Knowledge Hub was to explore the interrelations between correlates and determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in and across European populations through secondary data analyses, using stateof-the-art statistical methods. 19 One of the important drivers for establishing the Knowledge Hub was to enable comprehensive and large-scale research using the wide variation in exposures and outcomes that exist across Europe and to make use of the scattered and sometimes overlapping research that is conducted across its member states.…”

“…35 36 In fact, an important goal of DEDIPAC was to work towards harmonisation of measurement instruments to better enable and promote prospective data harmonisation. 19 …”