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Background The Barcelona Superblock model transforms urban public spaces into active-friendly spaces, a key issue for public health. This study assessed the extent to which a newly developed Superblock in St. Antoni Market Square was used by citizens to perform physical activities and for sedentary behaviour during the first year of implementation. It then compared this citizens’ use of the Superblock for physical activities and sedentary behaviour with a comparison site at one-year follow-up, when the Superblock was fully integrated into citizens’ daily life. Methods This observational comparative study (May 2018-May 2019) used the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC). SOPARC assessed citizens’ sitting, standing, walking, practice of vigorous activities and use of electric scooter by gender, age group and time of the day. At the Superblock site, two observers completed five weekly observations: the opening week, and at three, five, eight and twelve months. At the comparison site, observers completed one weekly observation at twelve months after the implementation of the Superblock. Observations included 4 days/week (including weekends) and, 4 h/day (morning, midday, afternoon, evening). Results At baseline, an average of 2,340 citizens/hour were observed using the Superblock but visits reduced by 12% in the next three observation weeks and 17.6% after one-year (mainly elderly and teenagers). At baseline, 92.9% walked in the Superblock, while 3.1% engaged in vigorous physical activity. After one year, citizens’ walking decreased by 18.2%, from 2,170 citizens/hour at baseline to 1,930 citizens/hour. Citizens’ engagement in vigorous activities also declined by 11%, from 73 citizens/hour at baseline to 65 citizens/hour at one-year follow up. In the comparison site, citizens’ usage for walking and vigorous physical activity was similar to the Superblock. Conclusions This is the first study to assess the extent to which citizens made use of the Barcelona Superblock model to perform physical activities, an urban built-environment intervention that is both novel and health-enhancing. The Superblock model would benefit from strategies maximizing effectiveness for promoting superblock-based physical activity, with special focus on seniors and teenagers.

Background Occupational physical activity (OPA) may not report the same health benefits as leisure time physical activity (LTPA). While LTPA is beneficial for all workers, OPA can be detrimental for health. Most importantly, LTPA might have different health effects for different occupational groups (low versus high OPA jobs). It is also unclear the influence LTPA or leisure time sedentary behaviour (LTSB) might have on the health, wellbeing and productivity of workers with high OPA jobs. This project will (i) study the free-living patterns of (occupational and leisure time) physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) in workers from the manufacturing industry. Then, we will (ii) investigate associations between free-living patterns of PA and SB with mental health, happiness, absenteeism and work-related injuries of manufacturer workers. Methods Cross-sectional study. Employers and occupational risk prevention services will randomly invite workers (aged 18 to 65) from manufacturing industries of micro, small and medium enterprises in Central Catalonia to participate (n = 220). Participants will wear an ActivPAL device for 7 days and will complete a questionnaire on general health, life balance between work and family life, mental well-being, mental health, work-related happiness and absenteeism. Variables (1) physical activity pattern (activPAL3TM), (2) demographic data and lifestyles (food, tobacco and alcohol habits (ESCA 2022), (3) impact of work on employees' health, absence for illness (5th and 6th European Survey of Working Conditions), (4) well-being (Health Questionnaire, SF-36), (5) Work Health Balance (WHB Questionnaire), (6) Mental Health (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), (7) Happiness (Pemberton Happiness Index). The group will be analysed on the average value of the variables. Discussion Identifying the free-living patterns of physical activity and sedentary behaviour of workers with high OPA and its associations with health, will provide preliminary data to develop tailored PA (occupational and non-occupational) interventions to this occupational group. Support / Funding Source Grants for the recruitment of research staff (Agency for the Management of University and Research Grants, co-financed by the European Union).

Abstract Background and Objectives In the current landscape of workplace well-being policies, the promotion of adequate physical activity (PA) has gained prominence. Extensive peer-reviewed literature outlines essential components for effective PA initiatives. Building upon Väänänen et al.’s (2022) scoping review of grey literature, this study aims to assess which of the identified initiatives are most feasible for inclusion in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Region of the World Health Organization. Methods A questionnaire to evaluate the feasibility was administrated to 82 experts from 26 countries, including the Worksite HEPA promotion working group and experts contacted by the WHO Regional Office for Europe (HEPA focal points). These experts rated the initiatives on positive attributes for practice transfer (effectiveness, practicality, adaptability, generalizability, and cost-benefit) using a 5-point Likert scale. Ratings were categorized by company size, and experts provided recommendations for their countries or regions on a scale of 1-10. Subsequently, an online Delphi panel of experts gathered qualitative feedback on the initiatives with the highest scores, facilitating consensus for their inclusion in a European PA Toolkit tailored for SMEs. Results Through three waves, 28 experts assessed a total of 390 initiatives. Forty-three initiatives were considered most feasible for SMEs because they reached a minimum score of 20/25 on positive attributes for practice transfer plus any attributed scored below 4. These initiatives were appraised feasible for SMEs, obtaining a recommendation score of at least 7. After two rounds of Delphi panels involving six experts, no consensus was reached on which of the 43 initiatives were most feasible for SMEs. Conclusions The 43 initiatives that were considered feasible through the questionnaire-based assessment, covered all Workplace PA initiative categories identified by Väänänen et al. 2022 (Active work and living; Exercise and fitness programs; Management and leadership; Communication and dissemination; and Facilities). The experts found the underlying concept of these initiatives inspiring for European SMEs. However, they are not transferable to every context. Further research is needed to determine the conditions that must be met to make these concepts feasible across various contexts. Funding Source World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe

Background There is a need to scale-up effective physical activity (PA) programmes for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), where the uptake of PA interventions is low. Identifying real-life workplace practices in PA could contribute to a better understanding of what PA programmes might be most grounded in the ‘real world’. However, there is a scarcity of evidence showing what gets done. This study aimed to identify, describe and comprehensively summarize the real-life implementations of workplace PA initiatives, particularly in Europe, as a prior step to disseminating future feasible PA practices for SMEs. Methods A scoping review of grey literature included a systematic search in the Google advanced search platform that permuted a combination of key concepts (PA, workplace, interventions/programmes), internet domains, and search operators in six different languages (Catalan, Finnish, French, Dutch, English and Spanish) between 2015 and November 2020. The analysis process was iterative, and multiple methods were used to sort, group and categorize the initiatives. Results There were a total of 713 real-life workplace PA initiatives from different-sized organizations identified. These were categorized into five themes: active work and living, exercise and fitness programs, management and leadership, communication and dissemination, and facilities. Finally, feature trees showing a menu for real-life workplace PA practices were implemented. Conclusions Identifying real-life practice providing a state-of-the-art snapshot of current PA practices in workplaces, which is a starting point to better understand feasible practices in the context of small- and medium-sized workplaces.