Aims

The core research approach of the consortium will be theory-based and participatory empirical intervention research to study the contextual conditions and the effects of physical activity promotion in populations aged 65 and above. Recognizing that PA intervention research projects should actively assess and reduce potentially adverse equity impacts of interventions, AEQUIPA also made equity a cornerstone of its work. Overall, the goals of AEQUIPA are:

  1. To strengthen the evidence base for preventive physical activity in the context of healthy ageing in Germany, including health economic aspects.
  2. To conduct research regarding the environmental, contextual and individual conditions enabling physical activity interventions among older adults.
  3. To implement a strategic linkage of urban planning and public health strategies at the local level to facilitate physical activity of older adults in the context of the built environment
  4. To develop new approaches for understanding and monitoring the impact of physical activity interventions on health equity.
  5. To investigate the role of new technologies in supporting physical activity among older adults.
  6. To develop a strong interdisciplinary regional prevention research network on public health interventions.
  7. To create an international interdisciplinary prevention research graduate program.
  8. To identify and strengthen participatory approaches in PA intervention development and conduct for persons aged 65+.
  9. To strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration in applied research and development as well as evaluation of information technology to support PA in the elderly.
  10. To assess the population-level prevention potential of PA interventions in the elderly in terms of social inequalities in health.
  11. To actively disseminate research results to the scientific community, the public and policy makers, using jointly developed AEQUIPA network strategies.

Specific objectives are defined for each subproject separately.