Page 177 - GHES-3-2

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Health awareness survey of university students

process, ensuring all target groups were represented in the and social environment to protect health and encourage
steering committee. healthy behavior. The third strategy involves establishing
To enhance health promotion on campus, six “health agreements and rules to clarify expectations regarding
circles” were created, each focusing on specific health- healthy and unhealthy behaviors. Finally, the fourth
related themes. For example, the “Active Breaks” circle strategy, care and guidance, focuses on early detection and
implemented actions such as incorporating active referral to care for those in need.
breaks into courses, lessons, and meetings and training These different strategies should be applied at multiple
multiplicators – students or teachers who could sustain levels to guarantee a quality health policy. The first level
these activities over time. The “Cycle to Campus” circle targets individuals or priority groups, such as students
promoted cycling to and from campus, while the “Loaning in this context. The second level involves functionally or
of Outdoor Play Material” circle encompassed a kiosk geographically defined groups, like classes. The third level
with outdoor play equipment, such as table tennis, encompasses the entire target group and its environment
badminton, balls, and frisbees. The “Fruit Day” circle within the setting, such as the faculty. Finally, the final level
involved distributing free fruits on campus once per addresses the physical and social environment outside the
semester. The “Dancing/High-intensive training/Running/ university setting.
Jogging” circle offered weekly sports activities on campus, Upon reviewing the interventions, it is evident that
such as dancing, high-intensive training, or running, and none focused on the strategy of care and guidance.
the “Meditation/Activation” circle provided meditation A possible explanation is that central services at the
courses after lunch. Overall, these health circles prove to Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts provide
be an effective tool for analyzing, planning, implementing, individual guidance and support for students, such as
and evaluating health-promotion interventions in the psychological-therapeutic counseling. However, there are
university setting. no interventions centered on agreements and rules.
An overview of the health-promoting interventions on A large number of interventions aim to modify
Campus Kleefeld is presented in Table 1. The framework the environment, including the installation of water
of the “health matrix” was used to classify each activity dispensers, the purchase of chairs and outdoor play
(Vlaams Instituut Gezond Leven, 2021). This framework materials, and the provision of space for social gardening.
emphasized the need for a balanced mix of different These interventions are structurally integrated into the
strategies related to education, environment, agreements, campus and are therefore regarded positively in sustaining
and rules as well as care and guidance to create a health- on-campus health promotion. There is also an equal focus
promoting policy in settings like universities. on education as well as care and guidance: for instance,
The first strategy, education, aims to inform Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO, a subscription-based
participants, strengthen competencies, and raise program developed by the Counseling & Psychological
awareness about healthy lifestyles. The second strategy, Services of San Diego State University (Counseling &
environmental interventions, aims to modify the physical Psychological Services San Diego State University, 2023),

Table 1. Health matrix for Campus Kleefeld
Strategies Student Class Faculty Environment (Social and physical
environment)
Education Run/jog/walk Active breaks Voluntary courses for health Partnership with the European
meetings, promotion, Healthy Snack– Lifestyle Medicine Organization
high-intensity Fruit Day, partnership with the
interval training European Lifestyle Medicine
courses Organization
Environmental interventions Social gardening, provision of Project on bike repair station
outdoor play material, provision
of chairs for outdoor teaching,
water dispensers
Agreements and rules The faculty committee agrees to
support activities and promote
healthy behaviors
Care and guidance Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 169 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.4290