Capacity Building in Community Stakeholder Groups for Increasing Physical Activity: Results of a Qualitative Study in Two German Communities

Community capacity building is an essential approach for health promotion, combining a participatory approach with the view to community ownership. Little research focuses on practical capacity building strategies and monitoring. Our paper looks into involving stakeholders in facilitated group discussions as a specific strategy for fostering capacity building processes. These processes focused on physical activity (PA) promotion in two German communities (ACTION4men). Along the dimensions of capacity building suggested in literature (e.g., problem solving, resource mobilization, leadership), we implemented two participatory stakeholder groups (1/community). These groups were motivated to develop and implement PA interventions for men >50 years. For measuring capacity building processes, a semi-standardized monitoring instrument was used to document all group meetings. Additionally, we conducted semi-standardized interviews with group participants and drop-outs to capture their perspectives on capacity building. All documents were analyzed using thematic analysis. We successfully established stakeholder groups that planned and implemented a range of local measures meant to increase PA among older men. In one community, the process was sustainable, whereby the group continued to meet regularly over years. Capacity building was successful to a certain degree (e.g., regarding participation, problem assessment, and resource mobilization), but stalled after first meetings. Capacity building processes differed between the two communities in terms of leadership and sustainability. The developed interventions mainly addressed the access to organized sport courses, rather than tackling walkability or active transport. The theoretical capacity building approach was successful to develop and implement programs aimed at promoting PA. The actual capacity building processes depend upon the composition of stakeholder groups and inherent power relations

„Der Mensch, der Handball spielt, braucht den Ball, den Kontakt und die Gemeinschaft“ – Veränderungen im Sportangebot durch die COVID-19 Pandemie und deren Bedeutung für Sportvereine

Ziel der Studie Sportvereine spielen eine wichtige Rolle für die Bewegungs- und damit auch die Gesundheitsförderung in Deutschland. Die vorliegende Studie befasst sich vor dem Hintergrund der Corona-bedingten Einschränkungen mit den Veränderungen in der Angebotsstruktur und deren Bedeutung für die Sportvereine. Methode Es wurden 15 Experteninterviews mit Vertretern und Vertreterinnen bayerischer Sportvereine geführt. Die Daten wurden transkribiert und mittels thematischer Analyse induktiv ausgewertet. Ergebnisse Von den Vereinen wurden umfangreiche Aktivitäten entwickelt, um den Mitgliedern auch unter den Rahmenbedingungen der COVID-19-Pandemie Möglichkeiten für sportliche Aktivitäten zu bieten. Die Vereinsmitglieder hätten dabei mit viel Verständnis auf die Veränderungen und Einschränkungen im Angebot reagiert. Die Nutzung der neu geschaffenen digitalen Angebote durch die Mitglieder scheint sich von der Nutzung der realen Kurse zu unterscheiden. Das längerfristige Potenzial der digitalen Angebote wird jedoch weitgehend skeptisch betrachtet. Insbesondere der im Sport normalerweise immanente Gemeinschaftsaspekt würde den Teilnehmenden an digitalen Formaten fehlen. Schlussfolgerungen Die Anstrengungen der Sportvereine, ein geregeltes Bewegungsprogramm auch unter den Rahmenbedingungen einer Pandemie bereit zu stellen, betont deren Bedeutung für Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung. Aus Public-Health-Sicht bieten die Veränderungen in der Angebotsstruktur darüber hinaus das Potenzial, auch unter normalisierten Rahmenbedingungen beibehalten zu werden. Hierzu sind aber weiterführende Forschungsarbeiten notwendig.Aim Sports clubs play an important role in the promotion of physical activity and health in Germany. Against the background of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the present study explores the changes in sport activities and their significance for sports clubs. Methods We conducted 15 expert interviews with representatives of Bavarian sports clubs. The data were transcribed and evaluated inductively by means of thematic analysis. Results The clubs developed extensive activities to provide members with opportunities for sport and exercise even under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, the club members were understanding and positive towards the changes in the clubs. The participation in the newly created digital offers by the members seemed to differ from those in real courses. Nevertheless, the interviewees were skeptical about the long-term potential of digital sports offerings. Participants could miss the personal contact, the collective experience and team spirit when meeting only virtually. Conclusions The efforts of the sports clubs to provide regular opportunities for sport and exercise during the COVID-19-pandemic underlines their importance for prevention and health promotion. From a public health perspective, changes in the offered activities may outlast the pandemic. However, further research is necessary.Peer Reviewe

Combining targeted and systematic prostate biopsy improves prostate cancer detection and correlation with the whole mount histopathology in biopsy naïve and previous negative biopsy patients

OBJECTIVE: Guidelines for previous negative biopsy (PNB) cohorts with a suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa) after positive multiparametric (mp) magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) often favour the fusion-guided targeted prostate-biopsy (TB) only approach for Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) ≥3 lesions. However, recommendations lack direct biopsy performance comparison within biopsy naïve (BN) vs. PNB patients and its prognostication of the whole mount pathology report (WMPR), respectively. We suppose, that the combination of TB and concomitant TRUS-systematic biopsy (SB) improves the PCa detection rate of PI-RADS 2, 3, 4 or 5 lesions and the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP)-grade predictability of the WMPR in BN- and PNB patients. METHODS: Patients with suspicious mpMRI, elevated prostate-specific-antigen and/or abnormal digital rectal examination were included. All PI-RADS reports were intramurally reviewed for biopsy planning. We compared the PI-RADS score substratified TB, SB or combined approach (TB/SB) associated BN- and PNB-PCa detection rate. Furthermore, we assessed the ISUP-grade variability between biopsy cores and the WMPR. RESULTS: According to BN (n = 499) vs. PNB (n = 314) patients, clinically significant (cs) PCa was detected more frequently by the TB/SB approach (62 vs. 43%) than with the TB (54 vs. 34%) or SB (57 vs. 34%) (all p < 0.0001) alone. Furthermore, we observed that the TB/SB strategy detects a significantly higher number of csPCa within PI-RADS 3, 4 or 5 reports, both in BN and PNB men. In contrast, applied biopsy techniques were equally effective to detect csPCa within PI-RADS 2 lesions. In case of csPCa diagnosis the TB approach was more often false-negative in PNB patients (BN 11% vs. PNB 19%; p = 0.02). The TB/SB technique showed in general significantly less upgrading, whereas a higher agreement was only observed for the total and BN patient cohort. CONCLUSION: Despite csPCa is more frequently found in BN patients, the TB/SB method always detected a significantly higher number of csPCa within PI-RADS 3, 4 or 5 reports of our BN and PNB group. The TB/SB strategy predicts the ISUP-grade best in the total and BN cohort and in general shows the lowest upgrading rates, emphasizing its value not only in BN but also PNB patients

Effects of a Participatory School-Based Intervention on Students' Health-Related Knowledge and Understanding

Introduction: The development of knowledge and understanding in relation to movement and health is a basic requirement to facilitate lifelong engagement in physical activity with its accompanying possible health benefits. To train teachers in applying adequate strategies, implementation studies have often shown little acceptance of traditional top-down approaches. Thus, the purpose of the Health.edu project was to develop, implement and evaluate effective and feasible measures addressing students' health-related knowledge and understanding (HKU) in physical education (PE) via a participatory approach. Materials and Methods: For evaluation, a controlled pre-post-test study with 233 students from eight different secondary schools in Germany was carried out. Four schools (with two PE teachers at each school) comprised the intervention group and they participated in a 1-year participatory planning process to conceptualize and implement evidence-based PE lessons addressing students' HKU. Control schools carried out their regular PE lessons. Evaluation followed a mixed-methods research design, assessing program implementation via written documentary technique as well as program effectiveness using a standardized questionnaire. Results: Results show a significant intervention effect on students' HKU with a medium effect size. However, due to the participatory process, there were considerable differences between the intervention schools that were involved. Student's HKU improved most in schools where program implementation corresponded to relevant principles of fostering HKU. Discussion: The present study purposefully dispensed with any structured intervention programs for PE teachers to follow. The results show the potential effects of this participatory approach to strengthen student's HKU. However, the participatory planning does not always work in the intended manner, emphasizing that numerous contextual factors influence the implementation process

A Person-Centered Perspective on Physical Activity-Related Barriers Perceived by Male Fluctuators 50 Plus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Men aged 50 or older (50 plus) represent a hard-to-reach target group for health-enhancing physical activity (PA) interventions. However, a considerable percentage of men 50 plus do not entirely fail to achieve the PA milestones set by the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. They show fluctuating PA behavior, influenced by various barriers hindering or preventing regular PA participation. As “one-size-fits-all” behavioral change interventions are only partially effective in specific subgroups, it is essential to tailor PA promotion measures to the particular needs of male fluctuators 50 plus. The standardized questionnaire included validated instruments measuring participants’ current stage of behavioral change, their perceived barriers to PA, questions on selected psychosocial correlates of PA, and sociodemographic variables. Out of 1,013 participants, 133 men (13.1%) classified themselves as fluctuators. Using a person-centered approach, we formed groups with similar intra-individual relevant barrier profiles using hierarchical cluster analysis (Ward method) followed by k-means clustering. We identified four clusters. Cluster 1 ( n = 31) involves men predominantly perceiving physical constraints. Cluster 2 ( n = 33) represents men lacking self-motivation and struggling with their weaker selves. Men in Cluster 3 ( n = 51) primarily indicate professional and private obligations that prevent them from being physically active. Finally, men in Cluster 4 ( n = 18) miss appropriate sports courses that meet their individual needs. Our findings support identifying individually tailored strategies designed to promote regular PA in male fluctuators 50 plus. Further research is required to determine the effectiveness of this approach in improving adherence to PA guidelines and corresponding health-enhancing effects for men 50 plus

Pattern Recognition and Image Processing Group

Abstract – This paper presents an intelligent video sensor (IVS) and possible applications in traffic surveillance. The IVS combines video sensing with video processing and data communication. It will be realized as embedded system and captures a video stream, computes traffic information and transfers the compressed video stream and the traffic information to the base station