physical education, physical activity, policy, surveillance, research
Purpose: The recently launched Global Observatory for Physical Education
(GoPE!)(1) builds on Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!)(2) highly successful and impactful initiative to address the strategic policy action of strengthening the provision of quality physical education (PE) and physical activity (PA) within
school settings worldwide3 and the gap of missing, misaligned and often outdated
indicators around PE and PA at school policy, surveillance, and research(3). Thus, we
aim to present the first version of GoPE!’s conceptual framework. Methods: The
GoPE!’s conceptual framework is derived from combining the frameworks of GoPA!
and the European Physical Education Observatory (EuPEO)(4) with a non-systematic desk review that identified relevant literature and international PE monitoring
systems (e.g. AHKGA, GoPA!, GSHS, OECD, WHO, UNESCO). From this, the respective conceptual frameworks were extracted, analysed, and condensed
through a collaborative, iterative, and qualitative analysis towards GoPE!’s first conceptual framework. The framework’s operationalisation adopted the following criteria: representativeness, comparability, feasibility, validity-reliability, reach, and
policy-actionability. Results: The GoPE! Country Card is going to be the main product released every 4 years, starting in 2024. This is a one-page graphic summary of
a country's key dimensions and indicators compiled using a rigorous standardized
methodology, where the data is first collected by the GoPE! researchers and next
verified by country representatives. The GoPE!’s conceptual framework led to five
dimensions, 27 indicators, and a set of comprehensive search strategies: (1) Country
demographics (12 indicators) ; (2) PA prevalence (3 indicators) ; (3) PE policy (6 indicators) and (4) PE monitoring (1 indicator); and (5) PE and school-based PA research
interventions (5 indicators). We will consult the best available data sources (e.g. The
World Bank, UNESCO, physical activity surveillance systems, governmental websites, international reports/monitoring systems, google, and scientific databases)
and conduct a systematic umbrella review to complete data collection. A network
of PE experts will become Country Contacts to review and approve the data before
publication. Conclusion: GoPE!’s conceptual framework will provide a highly consistent and feasible worldwide model of actionable dimensions that contribute to a
minimum common denominator of quality PE and PA at school. GoPE! will facilitate
critical periodic data to enable countries to initiate or improve PE and PA at school
policy, monitoring, and research. References: 1Martins et al. 2023. J Phys Act
Health, 20(7): 573. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0099
2GoPA! https://new.globalphysicalactivityobservatory.com/goals/
3WHO. Global Status Report on Physical Activity
2022. ISBN 978-92-4-005915-3
4EuPEO. https://www.eupeo.net