The Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI): a Tool for Monitoring and Benchmarking Government Policies Promoting Physical Activity

Woods CB, Kelly L, Volf K, Gelius P, Messing S, Forberger S, Lakerveld J, Den Braver NR, Zukowska J, Bengoechea EG (2022)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Conference contribution, Abstract of lecture

Publication year: 2022

Series: Why does sociology matter? The role of sport sociology in interdisciplinary research

Conference Proceedings Title: Book of Abstracts

Event location: Tübingen DE

Abstract

Background:

To improve population levels of physical activity (PA), a multifaceted response, including government action,

is essential. The purpose of this study was to develop the ‘Physical Activity Environment Policy Index’ (PAEPI)

monitoring framework which allows for the assessment of government policies and actions.


Methods:

An iterative process was undertaken. This involved a review of policy documents, a policy audit of four

European countries, systematic reviews of scientific literature, an online consultation with academic experts

(N=101; 20 countries) and policymakers (N=40; 4 countries), and consensus workshops.

Findings:

The PA-EPI is conceptualised as a two-component framework. The two components comprise eight ‘policy’

and seven ‘infrastructure support’ domains. The policy domains are education, transport, urban design,

healthcare, public education, sport-for-all, workplaces and community. The infrastructure support domains

are leadership, governance, monitoring and intelligence, funding and resources, platforms for interaction,

workforce development, and health-in-all-policies. Across all domains, the PA-EPI includes forty-five ‘good

practice statements’ (GPS).


Discussion:

The PA-EPI is the first attempt at using knowledge co-production at the science–policy interface to create a

policy index to assess the healthiness of the PA environment. From a social science perspective, it is

grounded in evidence pertaining to the importance of specific settings for population-level physical activity

behaviour. Its design reflects theories pertaining to the policy cycle and on policy instruments.


Conclusion:

Once pre-tested and piloted in several countries of various sizes and income levels, the PA-EPI GPS will

evolve into benchmarks established by governments at the forefront of creating and implementing policies

to address inactivity.

Authors with CRIS profile

Peter Gelius Lehrstuhl für Sportwissenschaft mit dem Schwerpunkt Bewegung und Gesundheit Sven Messing Lehrstuhl für Sportwissenschaft mit dem Schwerpunkt Bewegung und Gesundheit

Involved external institutions

Gdańsk University of Technology (GUT) / Politechnika Gdańska PL Poland (PL) Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Amsterdam UMC) / Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra NL Netherlands (NL) University of Limerick IE Ireland (IE) Leibniz-Institut für Präventionsforschung und Epidemiologie - BIPS GmbH DE Germany (DE) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) / University Amsterdam NL Netherlands (NL)

How to cite

APA:

Woods, C.B., Kelly, L., Volf, K., Gelius, P., Messing, S., Forberger, S.,... Bengoechea, E.G. (2022). The Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI): a Tool for Monitoring and Benchmarking Government Policies Promoting Physical Activity. Paper presentation at 2022 EASS & ISSA World Congress of Sociology of Sport, Tübingen, DE.

MLA:

Woods, Catherine B., et al. "The Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI): a Tool for Monitoring and Benchmarking Government Policies Promoting Physical Activity." Presented at 2022 EASS & ISSA World Congress of Sociology of Sport, Tübingen 2022.

BibTeX: Download