Introduction
A health promotion campaign is an initiative that is ultimately implemented to improve health outcomes. On the one hand, the resources that can be used dictate the nature and the quality of the campaign. On the other hand, the idea that is being promoted also affects how the goal is approached. The presence of multiple stakeholders is another circumstance that affects the establishment and implementation of the designed plan (Department of Health and Social Care, 2021). The current paper is a case study of implementing a campaign to address sedentary lifestyles in children and an exemplification of establishing and successfully applying for health promotion in practice.
Establishing the Goal and Aims
The first aspect that needs to be considered when establishing a health promotion campaign is determining the area and segment to be targeted. Reliable sources highlight that over 20% of children between 10 and 11 are obese (NHS Digital, 2023). This generates an urgency for a health promotion campaign to increase physical activity, as it correlates with a healthier BMI. Hence, the goal is to motivate children to be more active and engage in sports and PA.
The plan can be broken down into two aims: to improve knowledge of the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle and establish a health protection system. A similar initiative was launched during the pandemic, in which people with obesity were offered free weight loss plans that included exercise regimens (UK policy targeting obesity during a pandemic — the right approach? 2022). The current campaign aims to create an informational channel as well as provide children with free activity plans that they can follow to achieve a more proactive lifestyle.
Campaign Need and Target
There is a variety of techniques that can be applied to determine the need for the campaign and the target demographic. Research, however, is essential in ensuring that the initiative does, indeed, coincide with evidence. For example, researchers may suggest that a particular community lacks vitamins. As a result, primary physicians can apply individual-level models to encourage patients to consume specific products or supplements (Bazant et al., 2022).
The current case study is regarding physical activity. The need to combat sedentary lifestyles in children is supported by evidence of increased childhood obesity (Busam & Solomon-Moore, 2021). Similarly, the target demographic has been selected based on the abovementioned literature highlighting the issue. By tackling sedentary lifestyles in younger people, multiple conditions can be prevented early on.
Implementation and Evaluation
The implementation of the campaign is the essential stage in which the objectives are practically employed. It is crucial to consider the stakeholders and how they can benefit from the initiative (UK policy targeting obesity during a pandemic — the right approach? 2020). The current case study is focused on sedentary children between 10 and 14, aiming to create informational awareness and establish activity plans to be distributed for free.
Physicians can go to schools to speak with this demographic for informative purposes. This implies a community-level intervention as group behavior transitions toward a healthier one. Such initiatives have been evaluated as effective in addressing sedentary lifestyles (Chastin et al., 2021).
Regarding activity plans, the children listening to the information will be provided with the option to access a specialized website to download a free activity checklist. The activities will be designed to be fulfilled without the need for equipment. Students between Years 6 and 9 from 3 separate schools will be targeted based on their age and the number of individuals for whom the intervention is intended (500 people).
Several challenges can impair the reliability of the results and the quality of data collected when running a health promotion program, particularly one aimed at teenagers. The dependability of the data used for assessment, such as questionnaires or activity trackers, can vary (Stellefson et al., 2020). Due to various factors, such as a preference for social acceptance or a lack of awareness, teenagers may self-report their activity levels or behavior with accurate or complete information.
Health programs are often analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods to determine their success and impact. In the current case, the number of students who attended the informational meeting can be determined. Furthermore, a month after the campaign was established, a survey of the students who listened to the information can be performed regarding how their approach to the activity has changed.
Positive outcomes imply that at least 500 individuals have learned about the negative aspects of having a sedentary lifestyle, and 200 have downloaded the activity plan. Data obtained at the beginning and end of the campaign can be compared to learn more about how perceptions and actions have changed concerning health promotion objectives (Bazant et al., 2022). Focus groups and in-depth interviews are examples of qualitative techniques that can give detailed insights into people’s experiences. Health campaigns can examine knowledge changes and health outcomes using these evaluation techniques, allowing for a thorough assessment and influencing future health promotion initiatives.
Conclusion
The focus of the health campaign is to increase awareness among children of the importance of avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. The objective of increasing activity is broken down into the following aims: to generate an informational campaign and offer resources (a free activity plan that does not require equipment). As illustrated previously, designing and implementing health promotion involves considering goals, targets, needs, resources, and evaluations.
As a result, the objectives will be attained, and the health and well-being of the general population will be maximized. By implementing a way for children to learn how to become more active, they are more likely to transition towards a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, establishing a free activity plan maximizes disease prevention as risks for obesity and comorbidities decrease.
References
Bazant, E., McPhillips-Tangum, C., Shrestha, S. D., G S, P., Khera, A., Nic Lochlainn, L., Habtamu, E., Patel, V. I., Muhire, G., & Saarlas, K. N. (2022). Promising practices for the collaborative planning of integrated health campaigns from a synthesis of case studies. BMJ Global Health, 7(12). Web.
Busam, B., & Solomon-Moore, E. (2021). Public understanding of childhood obesity: Qualitative analysis of news articles and comments on Facebook. Health Communication, 38(5), 967–980. Web.
Chastin, S., Gardiner, P. A., Harvey, J. A., Leask, C. F., Jerez-Roig, J., Rosenberg, D., Ashe, M. C., Helbostad, J. L., & Skelton, D. A. (2021). Interventions for reducing sedentary behaviour in community-dwelling older adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021(6). Web.
Department of Health and Social Care. (2021). New office for health promotion to drive improvement of Nation’s health. GOV.UK. Web.
NHS Digital. (2023). Obesity statistics – House of Commons Library. Web.
UK policy targeting obesity during a pandemic — the right approach? (2020). Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 16(11), 609–609. Web.
Appendix A: Health Campaign
- The aim is to promote physical activity to students as a pivotal element of overall well-being.
- The need for the campaign is evident as 25% of the UK population engages in less than 30 minutes of PA weekly (Salman et al., 2019). Moreover, the prevalence of obesity is well-documented (Scheelbeek et al., 2019; Theis & White, 2021; Keaver et al., 2020)
- The objective is to create an informational campaign on the benefits of exercise for at least 500 teenagers and an activity plan for 200.
- The target audience is children between 10 and 14 years old. The need for an intervention is normative, as 80% of the demographic does not fulfil PA needs (Salman et al., 2019).
- Scholarly journals, Google Scholar, SAGE, and PubMed, are potential sources of information.