Process evaluation of European 'Healthy Stadia' program.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sports Management
• Health Promotion

Background:

• The Healthy Stadia (HS) initiative, launched in 2007, aimed to enhance health promotion within European sports stadia.
• The program targeted stadia staff, visitors, and surrounding communities, fostering a healthier environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a process evaluation of the Healthy Stadia program from July 2007 to December 2009.
• To assess the feasibility and long-term sustainability of a European Healthy Stadia network.

Main Methods:

• The study involved nine associate partners coordinating local activities and recruitment.
• Structured questionnaires were administered to associate partners every six months for evaluation.
• Response rates for the evaluations ranged from 77.8% to 88.9%.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of alcohol prevention and accessibility for people with disabilities in stadia.
• Challenges were noted in promoting mental health and green transport initiatives.
• Activities primarily engaged stadia staff and visitors, with resource constraints emerging as a key challenge.

Conclusions:

• The Healthy Stadia program proved feasible, fostering the development of health-promoting practices in sports stadia.
• Sustainability of the HS network faced challenges due to human and economic resource limitations.
• Future efforts should address resource allocation to ensure program longevity and broader impact.