Intersectoral collaboration of public health and urban planning for promotion of mobility and healthy ageing: protocol of the AFOOT project

AbstractMaintenance of physical activity and mobility is a crucial factor for healthy ageing and ageing in place. The built environment can either promote or hinder active transportation, and also affect social participation and independence. Although public health researchers have been examining this relationship for years, in Germany it is neither a commonly addressed topic of public health authorities nor explicitly in the focus of urban planning departments. The AFOOT project pursues an inter- and transdisciplinary approach to identify entry points for health and equity assessment in urban planning procedures, with a particular focus on small- and medium-sized towns. The final goal is to develop a guide for intersectoral policy action. The project methodology includes document analysis, interviewing of experts, workshops and the simulation of implementation by role-playing games with local stakeholders. Against the background of the ‘Health in All Policies’ strategy, encouragement of a transdisciplina...