Landesvereinigung für Gesundheit und
Akademie für Sozialmedizin Niedersachsen e. V.
Fenskeweg 2 | 30165 Hannover 
Internet: www.gesundheit-nds.de
Twitter: @LVGundAFS

Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS

Department Prevention and Evaluation
Achterstraße 30
D - 28359 Bremen

Research Interests

• Community Prevention Approaches
• Social Epidemiology
• Addiction Research
• Sex and Gender-Sensitive Research Methods in Epidemiology and Public Health
• Aspects of Men's Health
   

Dissertation Topic

Analysis of community capacities for promotion of older adults’ physical activity

Abstract

Physical activity is an important contributor to healthy ageing. Communities can play an important role in delivering public health programs to older adults but they differ in the provision of local structures and resources. Furthermore, prevention and health promotion activities do not reach all population groups to the same extent. The concept of Community Readiness applies a stage model of change to the communities to analyze structures and the degree of willingness to take action on a health issue. According to the stage of readiness, capacity building measures are initiated. Capacity building measures comprise strategies for structure formation prior to the introduction of prevention programs with the aim to reach vulnerable population groups for promoting physical activity.
Hence the dissertation aims to assess the Community Readiness regarding physical activity for older adults in the Metropolitan Region of Northwest Germany. Furthermore it aims to implement appropriate capacity building measures to reach vulnerable population groups.
In the frame of the dissertation a Community Readiness Assessment with key respondents in 23 municipalities (11 urban and 12 rural communities) in the Metropolitan Region of Northwest Germany will be performed. In a content analysis strengths, weaknesses and obstacles of existing physical activity programs in the included communities are analyzed.
As in Germany so far a systematic analysis of the state of readiness of communities regarding promotion of physical activity in older people is missing, this approach provides an important contribution to close this research gap.

Academic Supervision

Prof. Dr. Hajo Zeeb, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Department Prevention and Evaluation.

Universität Oldenburg
Fakultät VI, Department für Versorungsforschung
Abteilung Automatisierungs- und Messtechnik
Ammerländer Heerstraße 140
D - 26129 Oldenburg

Research Interests

• Technology for healthy ageing
• Technology-supported geriatric assessment
• Activity recognition and assessment using wearable sensors

Dissertation Topic

Technology-supported geriatric analysis of mobility and independent living

Abstract

In the AEQUIPA subproject 4 "Technology" the functional reduction and thus the loss of mobility and independence in old age are investigated within the VERSA study. In addition to a common geriatric assessment with technical support, wearable sensors are used to record the physical activity under everyday conditions for one week at home.
One aim is to investigate whether the results gained by a classical geriatric assessment can also be obtained by wearable sensors and technical devices. For this purpose, the assessments are carried out in classical and technical terms (sensor belt, ground reaction force plates, light barriers, etc.). If technology-assisted assessments or a one-week wearing of a sensor belt have the same significance and validity like common geriatric assessments concerning mobility and independence, the inclusion of technical devices could be a significant support for medical staff and a workload reduction.
The mentioned sensor belts record the acceleration, rotation, magnetism and the air pressure so that a mobility analysis of everyday activities can be carried out using appropriate algorithms. Existing algorithms will be specialized for the analysis of the movements of older adults. Furthermore, everyday activities will be investigated by technology-assisted methods in detail. This approach may lead to stronger indicators for the functional reduction or loss of independent living and mobility, compared to classical geriatric assessment.

Academic Supervision

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Hein, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Health Services Research, Division of Systems in Medical Engineering

Department of Social Epidemiology
Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research
Faculty of Human and Health Sciences
University of Bremen
Grazer Straße 2a
D - 28359 Bremen

Research Interests

• Physical activity
• Public health interventions
• Social inequalities in health

Dissertation Topic

Physical activity and social inequalities among older adults (working title)

Abstract

Against the background of demographic ageing and related challenges, the models of healthy and active ageing proposed by the World Health Organization become more and more relevant for society as a whole. Being physically active is one of the most important determinants of health and wellbeing among older adults. However, epidemiological studies have shown that a large proportion of the older population is not sufficiently physically active. Furthermore, the prevalence of being sufficiently physically active has been shown to be lower among socially disadvantaged population groups than among more advantaged population groups. These social inequalities in physical activity may be caused by economic, psychosocial and environmental factors.
One possibility to counteract physical inactivity is the development of prevention and health promotion measures that aim to enable people to integrate regular physical activity into their everyday life. However, population based prevention strategies not specifically targeting particular social groups of a population may unintentionally miss socially disadvantaged groups and may even widen existing social inequalities (“intervention-generated inequalities”).
This PhD project deals with older adults’ physical activity behavior, with a particular focus being placed on social inequalities. In individual work steps, it will examine (1) the importance of various social factors for older adults’ physical activity, (2) whether interventions to promote physical activity among older adults have an impact on social inequalities, and (3) how social inequalities can be considered adequately in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of interventions. 

Academic Supervision

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Bolte, MPH, University of Bremen, Institute for Public Health und Nursing Research (IPP), Department Social Epidemiology

Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS
Department Prevention and Evaluation
Achterstr. 30
D - 28359 Bremen

Research Interests

• Promotion of physical activity in older adults
• Public health interventions
• eHealth

Dissertation Topic

Development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions promoting physical activity in adults (working title)

Abstract

It is known that regular physical activity is associated with improvements in physical and psychologi-cal health outcomes. The World Health Organization recommends 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week for adults to achieve these health benefits. However, only 20% of adults currently meet these recommendations for physical activity in Germany. This dissertation is in part embedded in the PROMOTE project and investigates different aspects regarding the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions promoting physical activity in adults. The effectiveness of eHealth interventions for the promotion of physical activity in older adults comparing a non-eHealth physical activity intervention (e.g., paper-pencil, face-to-face) to a group that is not exposed to any intervention will be examined in a systematic literature review. In the PROMOTE study, the efficacy of two web-based interventions for the promotion of physical activity in older adults are compared to a waitlisted control group. Factors facilitating or hindering the long-term implementation and sustainability of interventions and policies promoting physical activity will be investigated based on qualitative case studies conducted in five European countries as part of the DEDIPAC study.

Academic Supervision

Prof. Dr. Hajo Zeeb, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Department Prevention and Evaluation
PD Dr. phil. Claudia Pischke, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Department Prevention and Evaluation, Unit Applied Health Intervention Research

Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS
Department Prevention and Evaluation
Achterstraße 30
D - 28359 Bremen

Research Interests

• Healthy Aging / Longevity
• Medical Geography / Spatial Epidemiology
• Evidence-Based Medicine / Evidence-Based Public Health

Dissertation Topic

Spatial analysis methods and medical geography in prevention research and health promotion (preliminary title)

Abstract

to come

Academic Supervision

Prof. Dr. Hajo Zeeb, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Department Prevention & Evaluation
PD Dr. phil. Claudia Pischke, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Department Prevention & Evaluation

TU Dortmund
Faculty of Spatial Planning
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
August-Schmidt-Straße 10, GB III
D - 44227 Dortmund

Research Interests

• integrated urban development
• mobility
• urban neighbourhoods
• planning processes and public policy
   

Dissertation Topic

Health in urban planning processes (working title)

Abstract

According to the WHO health needs to be put on the political agenda in all areas of political action (“health in all policies”). This comprises urban planning policies. The German Building Code literally states the creation of healthy living and working conditions („gesunde Wohn- und Arbeitsverhältnisse“ in § 1 (6) Abs. 1 BauGB) as one task of municipal planning. Nevertheless, health seems to be of minor importance in actual planning processes.
Based on expert interviews and document analyses conducted within the AFOOT project, the proposed dissertation aims at elaborating how health is addressed by different administrative units in the metropolitan region of Bremen-Oldenburg. Importance is attached to the local and regional actors’ understanding of health as well as the patterns of thought and routines that underlie the planning processes.

Academic Supervision

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sabine Baumgart, TU Dortmund University, Faculty of Spacial Planning, Department of Urban and Regional Planning