Sport physical education and coaching in health (SPEACH project)

Background: Main goal of the SPEACHProject is to increase awareness andbehavioural change regarding HEPAin sport professionals and Europeancitizens. To achieve this, HEPA relatededucational modules are beingdeveloped based on the wishes andneeds of current and future physicaleducation (PE) teachers and sportcoaches. This developmental processis based on a multi-step needs analysisincluding data from seven Europeancountries. Results from the needsanalysis are presented. Methods: A three-step strategy wasconducted: 1) data was collected onthe knowledge, interest and attitudesof future sport coach and physicaleducators, the students, in relation toHEPA via a digital survey; 2) input oncurrent organisational perspectives,as to the integration of HEPA relatedmodules into existing educationalstructures, was collected throughinterviews with representatives ofkey national organisations fromthe sport coaching and/or PEsector; 3) input was collected viaa focus group with key experts. Results: A total of 660 studentswere included and the following HEPA themes were deemed most important and relevant: changing behaviour; personal leadership; physical activity for special target groups; health policy; testing &prescription; nutrition. Students stated that the optimal curriculum should focus on: practice oriented learning; training-, group- and classroombased learning; internship; involving/reflective learning. Importantly, both content areas and learning methods must be defined in accordance with the knowledge, skills and competences students need to build.Discussion: Opportunities should be given to develop professional communication skills and pedagogic competences enabling students to support and coach various target groups to acquire an active and healthy lifestyle. A strong recommendation from the focusgroup meeting was that the developed modules should be flexible and differentiated from master to vocational level. Implications: The SPEACH/HEPAmodules should be thematic and integrated in nature meaning that several content themes need to be included. Regarding the didactics, a mixed method should be promoted including forms like: training, internship, group- and classroom based teaching. Finally, the modules should be flexible and offer differentiated levels so they can be implemented at vocational,bachelor as well as master level.