Heart health in Oberwart - an evidence-based regional Health Promotion Programm in Rural Austria
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Source
European Journal of Public Health supplement, 19(1), 65-66
Date Issued
2009-11-27
Author(s)
Püringer, Ursula
Matyas, E.
Harbacher, W.
Augustin, T.
Pfeffer, M.
Raggam, Reinhard Bernd
Ballmann, I.
Abstract
INn the district of Oberwart, Burgenland, Austria, cardiovas-
cular mortality is above the Austrian average. A high pre-
valence of several risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as
overweight, smoking, lack of physical activity, hypertension
and high cholesterol levels is evident. Especially, alcohol and
tobacco consumption in young people is alarmingly high.
Thus—for the first time in Austria—a 3-year regional,
comprehensive, gender and culturally sensitive heart health
programme is initiated in the school and community setting
aiming at the development of sustainable health promotion
structures in order to improve the health status of the
population.The programme was designed along the lines of successful
regional heart health programmes like the North Karelia
Project or more recent initiatives like the Otsego-Schoharie
Healthy Heart Program in the USA or the Norsjo
bzw. Vasterbotten Intervention Programm (VIP) in Sweden.
Empowerment and participation of the local population at
risk are the key elements of the programme. Additionally, it is
intended to introduce the concept of ‘Health in all Policies’ at
the community level. Community readiness will be assessed
first and interventions influencing major lifestyle factors like
diet, smoking and physical activity will be planned in a
participatory way involving the target groups of the project
(youth aged 14–18 years and man and women aged 30–60
years). Interventions will include health communication and
information as well as group approaches to individual
behavioural change and school/community health promotion
programmes comprising capacity building.
The University of Applied Sciences, Burgenland has the overall
responsibility for the programme and project management,
whilst the EBM Review Centre of the Medical University Graz
will be carrying out the programme evaluation. Joanneum
Research is assisting the monitoring and evaluation process. It
is anticipated that the control group design will enable
knowledge and best practice transfer to other interested
regions.
cular mortality is above the Austrian average. A high pre-
valence of several risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as
overweight, smoking, lack of physical activity, hypertension
and high cholesterol levels is evident. Especially, alcohol and
tobacco consumption in young people is alarmingly high.
Thus—for the first time in Austria—a 3-year regional,
comprehensive, gender and culturally sensitive heart health
programme is initiated in the school and community setting
aiming at the development of sustainable health promotion
structures in order to improve the health status of the
population.The programme was designed along the lines of successful
regional heart health programmes like the North Karelia
Project or more recent initiatives like the Otsego-Schoharie
Healthy Heart Program in the USA or the Norsjo
bzw. Vasterbotten Intervention Programm (VIP) in Sweden.
Empowerment and participation of the local population at
risk are the key elements of the programme. Additionally, it is
intended to introduce the concept of ‘Health in all Policies’ at
the community level. Community readiness will be assessed
first and interventions influencing major lifestyle factors like
diet, smoking and physical activity will be planned in a
participatory way involving the target groups of the project
(youth aged 14–18 years and man and women aged 30–60
years). Interventions will include health communication and
information as well as group approaches to individual
behavioural change and school/community health promotion
programmes comprising capacity building.
The University of Applied Sciences, Burgenland has the overall
responsibility for the programme and project management,
whilst the EBM Review Centre of the Medical University Graz
will be carrying out the programme evaluation. Joanneum
Research is assisting the monitoring and evaluation process. It
is anticipated that the control group design will enable
knowledge and best practice transfer to other interested
regions.
Type
info:eu-repo/semantics/conferenceObject
Konferenzbeitrag