Physical activity has a variety of health benefits for young people. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children and adolescents aged 5–17 years should be physically active for at least 60 min a day. This Health Impact Assessment (HIA) examined the potential impact of a daily physical activity unit in Austrian schools, with a focus on children and adolescents up to eighth grade. The HIA methodology systematically followed several stages: screening and scoping, appraisal, and formulation of recommendations. A literature review, an online survey (n = 712), focus group discussions (n = 4), and appraisal workshops (n = 2) have been carried out. The analyzed results indicate a primarily positive impact on the individual health of children and adolescents, on social and community-related networks, on living and working conditions, and on the system level. Recommendations for the implementation include ensuring equal opportunities and support for disadvantaged children and schools. Furthermore, the comprehensible selection of pilot regions and the nationwide resource planning should be considered. Additional important factors include the education and further training of pedagogical staff and coaches, and the availability of sufficient infrastructure. In the long term, the fixed integration of five additional teaching units of physical activity per week, and an increased focus on the elementary/nursery school sector were identified as significant.

Issue The HL-Survey-EU-2011 showed limited health literacy (HL) among the Austrian population (51,6%), especially in the federal state of Styria (63,1%). The project “Auf Gesundheitskurs - gesundheitskompetent in Feldbach” focuses on individual and organizational HL by training and educating production and service company workforce in a rural region in Austria. Description The population in the target region is especially disadvantaged regarding HL due to the parameters of age, gender, education, income and ethnicity. There are several small and medium-sized businesses within this area. This project (2018-2020) aims to improve knowledge, competences and skills of multipliers from different companies concerning organizational and individual HL, based on an in-person training programme. However, in order to recruit participants for this research project, a systematic recruitment approach was used. Results A total of 783 companies, listed in the community database, were contacted via email in order to inform about the project and to invite for an interview. After the initial email, 40 companies were selected, based on four characteristics: industry sector, company size, distance to town centre, relevance to HL, and contacted via phone as well. However, 7 companies out of 783 confirmed the first interview and 6 out of 7 signed the project cooperation. 18 out of 40 phone contacts led to personal meetings, 9 resulted in signing the cooperation. In total, 15 companies have decided to participate in the project. Lessons Overall, telephone contact led to much higher response rates than email alone. The parameters which effected positive outcomes during the interaction by phone and in-person were demonstrating benefits (healthy workplace, motivated staff, positive atmosphere, new customers), explaining the practical value, clarifying costs, expenditures and time effort. Although the topic of workplace health promotion is popular in this rural region, the focus on HL is new. Key messages Key factors in company recruitment for HL initiatives in rural regions are telephone and personal contact. Pointing out specific benefits for companies within the recruiting process seems also crucial.

The HL-Survey-EU-2011 showed limited health literacy (HL) among the Austrian population (51,6%). “On health course - health literacy in Feldbach” focuses on individual and organizational HL. As a part of the project, an education program for multipliers from 11 companies to promote health literacy of employees and customers took place in autumn 2019. Basic knowledge on 'finding, understanding, evaluating and applying of health information' and 'health communication' represented the basic structure of the training and supported the participants in the implementation. The training for the multipliers (n = 12) was divided into 3 focus areas, each was structured in 2 modules. Individual health literacy, organizational health literacy and special approaches to promoting health literacy were important components of the program. In this context, the quality criteria of health information were content of the training. Subsequently, there were inputs concerning health communication. In order to be able to evaluate health information critically, the multipliers learned how they recognize good and reputable health information and where they can find it. The participants studied how they could prepare and provide good health information for their employees and customers. The participants implemented projects to increase health literacy in their companies. The evaluation showed that the structure and content of the education program was appropriate. The attendees were able to put what they had learned into practice. The difficulty lay in conveying numerous contents in a very short time (3 days/8 ours). The different industries and company sizes of the participating companies and the resulting different needs also presented a major challenge during the training. With the content of the training and the experience of project implementation, a massive open online course (MOOC) is being created, which will be offered to all companies and interested parties in autumn 2020. Key messages It is important to train multipliers in order to increase the organization-related health literacy. The provision of practical examples for the implementation of measures to promote HL is crucial for the success of an HL education program.

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BACKGROUND In the industrialized world, between one and two per cent of adults worldwide are affected by Chronic Heart Failure (CHI) - i.e. in Austria, between 70,000 and 140,000 affected people can be assumed. OBJECTIVE The project aimed to identify the subjective needs and preferences of people affected by CHI in relation to interventions to empower them in different stages of the disease. METHODS Semi-structured interviews in different settings (clinical care, outpatient care, rehabilitation clinic, primary care, home care) were conducted with twelve (58% women) individuals. The focus was on other interventions for managing the condition, their content, and modalities regarding the various stages of the disease. RESULTS During the evaluation, a psychological process for internalising the diagnosis became visible. During the first year, the patients tried to generate knowledge about the disease and seek support. After this phase, people living with CHI got used to the condition and learned to deal with it. CHI was no longer perceived as an immediate threat and receded into the background of everyday life. In the beginning, the most important thing for them was theoretical information about heart failure (e.g. how the heart works, causes, complaints and symptoms of CHI) and how to deal with medication. In further progress, pragmatic questions about health-oriented behaviour in everyday life came to the fore. CONCLUSIONS To meet the needs of the people concerned educational measures such as education programmes, brochures and experiences of people with CHI were recommended at the beginning; afterwards, a telerehabilitation and thematically appropriate group courses (e.g. exercise classes, self-help groups, etc.), as well as a “lifestyle” patient app, can be considered for empowerment.