Despite known benefits and continued efforts to improve population levels of PA, low proportions of children (13.5%), adults (34%) and older adults (33%) in Ireland achieve the recommended guidelines. One possible solution to generate a socially significant change (i.e. improving PA levels) is to use effective interventions and effective implementation methods within enabling contexts. However, this requires collaboration of key stakeholder from multiple sectors using systems and participatory action approaches.

This presentation will introduce the Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration (I-PARC), a collaboration involving policy makers, practitioners and researchers established in 2018 to support the enabling context and identify effective interventions and implementation methods in Ireland. Key learnings related to establishing and maintaining a national multi-sectoral collaboration, and what has been achieved to date will be shared. Furthermore, insights from a social network analysis conducted over a period of three years to understand patterns of information exchange between stakeholders and knowledge leadership roles will be presented.

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Speakers:

Dr Joey Murphy, Lecturer in Physical Activity and Public Health, School for Policy Studies

Dr Enrique Garcia Bengoechea, Sport Ireland & University of Limerick, Ireland