Peer-reviewed article

S03-2 The Child-COOP Denmark study: using physical literacy to guide and evaluate a systemic approach to health promotion

Ryom K, Kirkegaard H, Østergaard J, Maindal H · 29 Aug 2022

Abstract

Abstract Background Children’s health is generally considered a complex interplay between multiple factors. Interventions building on community-based participatory research and system dynamics have shown promising potential in improving children's health behavior and well-being. This presentation aims to present how physical literacy can be used to guide and evaluate a systemic approach to health promotion. Methods System dynamics techniques such as group model building, is used to engage a whole community in a rural area of Denmark and develop local actions for enhancing among other physical activity. A central health outcome in The Child-COOP Denmark study is physical literacy, which is measured by using DAPL (the Danish version of CAPL). Physical literacy will be used as a central element to guide and evaluate the project. The evaluation design includes repeated measures of childhood health behavior, physical literacy and well-being among 100 children (6-13 y) attending the local primary school. With data collection at baseline and at 2 and 4 years of follow up. Results Furthermore, physical literacy results throughout the project period will also be used to guide new local actions in the environment aiming to enhance the local children’s health, well-being and physical activity. Discussion The potential of using physical literacy measures to guide and evaluate a participatory systems approach in order to solve complex health problems, is discussed and debated with the audience.