[Analysis of fourteen French national programmes on physical activity and sports as determinants of health from 2001 to 2006].
Physical activity and sports are considered as one of the determinants of health. The aim of this study is to review the rationale for the formulation of this public health issue and its integration in national action plans. The study shows that fourteen national programmes were drafted and implemented between 2001 and 2006 by seven institutions. The research methodology was based on crossing data obtained from semi-directed interviews and documents regarding the design, implementation and follow-up of these programmes. For the conditions of the success, the fourteen actions scored an average of 175.0 +/- 66.9 out of 300%. Public health actors and professionals must be given more opportunities to involve themselves and engage in developing stronger relationships and linkages, in particular with the institutional and community settings. In general, the most invested parts of a programme are the structural and operational aspects of activities. Six significant points surfaced from the study: consideration of drug use as an addictive behaviour; recognition of the psychological stress of professional athletes; acknowledgment of youth as being at high risk for doping behaviour; integration of the concept that physical activity and sports must take the benefit/risk perspective into account; and the necessity to promote health. Through the exchange of numerous local and regional experiences, an optimisation of their synergistic connections was made possible on a continuum extending from "health promotion through physical activity and sports" to "prevention of drug-use and doping behaviours". Professionals have been able to develop actions in the above-mentioned domains across this continuum that have, to date, remained isolated. Proposals are made to strengthen these dynamics. Other health determinants and public health priorities could be investigated with the same methodology.
Service de santé publique et économie de la santé, groupe hospitalier Lariboisière Fernand-Widal, assistance publique des hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 2 rue Ambroise Paré, 75475 Paris cedex 10, France. pierre-henri.brechat@lrb.aphp.fr
Pierre-Henri
PH
Bréchat
Thomas
T
Vogel
Marc
M
Berthel
Georges
G
Kaltenbach
Aude
A
Le Divenah
Christophe
C
Segouin
Roland
R
Rymer
Jean
J
Lonsdorfer
D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D009313:National Health Programs; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D013177:Sports