A new platform for studies and information exchange promoting a healthy lifestyle is launched

A new platform for studies and information exchange has been launched within the framework of the Baltic Sea region project BaltCityPrevention – www.betterprevention.eu. It aims at supporting public healthcare authorities in the Baltic Sea region in their efforts to prevent lifestyle diseases among young people.

The methods of health promotion planning, implementation and assessment are grouped into three categories:

• Assessment of user needs;
• Behavioural changes;
• Initiating and organising the design of new eHealth applications. 

The Better Prevention on-line platform has been created to provide an opportunity to learn from others, and to find out about the experiences of similar organisations in other countries. Those who are involved in health promotion in their municipality (municipal representatives, general practitioners, school nurses, teachers, etc.) are invited to share their experience. By visiting www.betterprevention.eu they can also familiarise themselves with the tools available through the project, and contact colleagues in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

Implementing efficient interventions in lifestyle to limit the spread of chronic non-infectious diseases poses a great challenge to all member states and organisations engaged in the project (among them Liepāja City Municipality, SIA Telemedica and Rīga Stradiņš University). Work on www.betterprevention.eu is still ongoing. In 2019 changes to methods of health behaviour will be tested using an intervention model developed by Rīga Stradiņš University. The intervention model is intended to encourage efficiency at organisations engaged in health promotion and get citizens more involved in this process.