V3-2305 IMPLEMENTING THE CONCEPT OF 24-HOUR MOVEMENT BEHAVIOURS AS A DETERMINANT OF HEALTH INTO THE SLOVENIAN ENVIRONMENT (GIB24)

Duration of the project:

Lead partner:

University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences

Project partners:

Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje
InnoRenew

Principal investigator:

prof. Nejc Šarabon (SICRIS, ResearchGate)

Team at UP Faculty of Health Sciences:

Assoc. Prof. Mirko Prosen (SICRIS, ResearchGate)

Team at InnoRenew CoE:

Asist. Prof. Kaja Kastelic (SICRIS, ResearchGate)

Team at NIJZ:

pred. Tjaša Knific, mag. fiziot., dipl. fiziot. (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Lidija Pollak, uni. dipl. kom. (SICRIS)

Abstract:

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep (i.e., 24-hour movement behaviours) are important factors that influence health and well-being. Awareness of their co-dependence has recently led to the recognition that we should address them in combination. The aim of the project is to implement the concept of 24-hour movement behaviours as a determinant of health in the Slovenian environment. The project will (i) develop Slovenian 24-hour movement guidelines for adults, (ii) develop a tool for the assessment of 24-hour movement behaviours and examine its measurement properties, (iii) implement the assessment of 24-hour movement behaviours into periodic population surveillance of health-related behaviours in the Slovenian population and into healthy lifestyle promotion programmes at the primary health care level, (iv) assess the magnitude of the issue of unhealthy 24-hour movement behaviours in a representative sample of Slovenian adults, and (v) introduce the concept of 24-hour movement behaviours to Slovenian professionals and the general public, and raise awareness of their importance for health and well-being. In the first part of the project, we will draft Slovenian 24-hour movement guidelines for adults, following a well-established methodology. The process of developing the guidelines will involve a systematic literature review and reconciliation of the draft guidelines with key professional associations and scientific institutions. In the second part, we will develop a questionnaire that will allow for a comprehensive assessment of 24-hour movement behaviours. The questionnaire will be integrated into the national surveillance system (NIJZ – Health-related behaviours in the Slovenian population 2024). We will develop an online/mobile application for the digital collection of data on 24-hour movement behaviours and pilot it in the routine work of healthy lifestyle promotion programmes. In the third part of the project, we will conduct objective measurements of 24-hour movement behaviours using the activity monitors (accelerometers) on a large sample of adults. Participants will wear a small accelerometer for 7 days (24 hours a day), allowing us to compare the data collected using the questionnaire and accelerometer. The last part of the project will raise awareness about the importance of healthy 24-hour movement behaviours and disseminate the results of the project to the general, professional, and scientific public. The project consortium has the equipment, know-how and experience necessary for the successful implementation of the project. The members of the project team have previously been involved in the process of guideline development, have experience in the development of measurement tools (including the development of digital tools) and in the assessment of 24-hour movement behaviours using the questionnaires and activity monitors (including data analysis and interpretation). The results of the project will contribute to the development of the profession and science, as well as to the economy and society. The new guidelines will make an important contribution to the preparation of future national strategies. Raising awareness and orienting the profession towards addressing all movement behaviours in an integrative way will present an important contribution to the development of the profession, in line with recent scientific findings. The results of the empirical study will provide insight into the proportion of the Slovenian population at increased risk of chronic non-communicable diseases due to unhealthy 24-hour movement behaviours. The establishment of national monitoring of 24-hour movement behaviours is also important for future trend tracking. Such data will inform future policies of public interest related to movement behaviours and health. The expected medium- and long-term results of the project are improvements in health, work productivity, longevity, and quality of life of the Slovenian population.

»The authors acknowledge the project Implementing the concept of 24-hour movement behaviours as a determinant of health into the Slovenian environment (GIB24) was finacially supported by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency and Ministry of Health .«