The Action

Determinants of Physical Activities in Settings

DE-PASS will focus on identifying, understanding and measuring the determinants which promote, maintain or inhibit Physical Activity Behaviours (PABs) across the lifespan and in different settings and translating this knowledge to assist policy-makers to achieve greater health impact.

Description of Action

The COST Action “Determinants of Physical ActivitieS in Settings” (DE-PASS) is unique in focus, extent, constitution and as an effective Knowledge Transfer Platform (KTP). DE-PASS will focus on identifying, understanding and measuring the determinants which promote, maintain or inhibit Physical Activity Behaviours (PABs) across the lifespan and in different settings and translating this knowledge to assist policy-makers to achieve greater health impact. European and global society is now largely physically inactive. The health, economic and social benefits of a more active society are enormous.

DE-PASS will illuminate why individuals and/or societies adopt a physically active or inactive lifestyle. To date enormous energy has been invested by researchers in answering this question, however, the knowledge gained and the impact achieved through this investment is fragmented, not readily translatable and progress beyond the state of the art is slow.

DE-PASS will achieve the following:

Background

European and global society can now be described as largely physically inactive. Appropriate levels of health enhancing Physical Activity (PA) are the exception. The positive health, economic and social implications of a more physically active society are far reaching. Therefore, it is essential to identify the determinants of this inactive, at risk society.

The knowledge translation premise of the “DEterminants of Physical ActivitieS in Settings” (DE-PASS) Action is that the more we understand and can identify the factors that determine a physically active or inactive lifestyle, the better we can design and implement targeted and effective interventions and policies. Within DE-PASS Physical Activity Behaviours (PABs) are defined as sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous intensity PA.

The evidence-based rationale for establishing DE-PASS is both extensive and contemporary (2017-2019), some challenges with extant evidence and data are as follows:

Many gaps and issues exist regarding extant knowledge and the related science of the determinants of PABs. However, regardless of this reality, effective translation of the current state of the art must still take place to optimise the efficacy and evaluation of ongoing and planned interventions and policy. Existing “Best Evidence” provides a meaningful launch pad for the translation of extant knowledge and for the definition of a future research agenda. Best evidence statements based on convincing levels of evidence regarding what the key modifiable determinants of PABs are and a set of guidelines on how to effectively change these determinants in specific settings are currently not available.

A sea change in knowledge generation is now required, it must be characterised by standardised and harmonised Pan-European data collection; it must use an objective measure of PABs; it must be comprehensive in the spectrum of determinants measured and include new candidate determinants, and must include prospective settings based cohort designs. Once armed with the newly derived knowledge, it will be possible to design interventions and policy that have a predictable and quantifiable chance of success. Without this sea change, no meaningful advance in the state of the art will occur, DE-PASS will be the platform to direct and ensure such change.