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Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Physical activity for small- and medium-sized enterprises: what features work in real life? A Delphi study
Sebastià Mas-Alòs1,2, Frank Vandaele3, Estela Farías2,4
1University of Lleida (UdL), Human Movement Research Group, Catalonia, Spain.
European Journal of Public Health
|June 18, 2026
Summary
Promoting health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is challenging. This study identified feasible HEPA initiatives and transferable features for SMEs, emphasizing adaptability and low-threshold approaches.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
- Health Promotion
Background:
- Regular physical activity is crucial for preventing noncommunicable diseases and benefits both employees and organizations.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employ the majority of the European workforce but are underrepresented in workplace health promotion research.
- Existing evidence on health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) initiatives primarily focuses on large organizations, lacking insights into SME feasibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify real-life HEPA initiatives perceived as most feasible for SMEs.
- To explore expert consensus on transferable features of HEPA initiatives for SMEs.
- To provide guidance for developing practical HEPA tools tailored to SME needs and capacities.
Main Methods:
- A three-stage hybrid e-Delphi study was conducted, involving a grey literature review, an expert survey, and expert panel discussions.
- 17 international experts evaluated 390 identified HEPA initiatives based on predefined criteria, including feasibility for different company sizes.
- Both quantitative scoring and qualitative discussions were integrated to interpret findings and identify transferable elements.
Main Results:
- A total of 714 real-life HEPA initiatives were identified and categorized.
- No initiative-level consensus on feasibility was reached across the WHO European Region.
- Experts identified transferable features, particularly in active-living and exercise/fitness domains, emphasizing adaptability and low-threshold approaches.
Conclusions:
- Developing effective HEPA initiatives for SMEs requires a focus on adaptability and low-threshold approaches.
- Expert consensus highlighted the importance of considering enterprise size when implementing HEPA programs.
- This study offers a structured analysis and practical guidance for implementing feasible workplace HEPA initiatives in SMEs within the European context.
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