Counteracting Diabetes Using Interdisciplinary Educative Programs
Democritus University of Thrace, under the scientific supervision of Professor Vasiliki Derri from the School of Physical Education and Sport Science (DPESS), is organizing and implementing, as one of the European partner organizations, the research project EU4HEALTH-2022-PJ-11 “Counteracting diabetes using interdisciplinary educative programs” (DUSE), funded by the European Union (European Health and Digital Executive Agency – HaDEA). The coordinator is the University of Bologna, in Italy, with Associate Professor Ms. Milena Raffi.
Objectives of the DUSE Program:
- To promote the broad concept of disease prevention and health promotion among European youth, both individually and socially, aligned with the goal of the EU4H-2022-PJ11 Program
- To create an innovative educational program to be delivered to children and adolescents at school, and also beyond, to increase awareness, knowledge, and skills related to diabetes prevention
- To test new protocols, including the use of technology applications, for education on a healthy lifestyle, promoting good practices in nutrition and physical activity, and increasing daily/weekly exercise levels, within the framework of new Physical Education curricula
- To address the needs of Ukrainian refugees concerning cross-border health threats, through prevention and the development of digital tools and services
General Objectives of the DUSE Program for Children and Adolescents:
- To improve health-related physical fitness
- To improve the frequency of physical activity and sleep habits and to reduce sedentary behavior
- To improve nutritional habits
- To improve quality of life and health through a) participation in educational activities during Physical Education classes, based on the latest global scientific developments to prevent and address diabetes, and b) use of a smartphone app outside school, aiming to transfer knowledge and provide additional motivation for the development of healthy habits.
Partnership Composition
- Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna (Unibo), ITALY (LEADER)
- Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, GREECE
- Association Sport for All Suceava (AJSPT Suceava), ROMANIA
- Charitable Fund League of Tolerance (LOFT), UKRAINE
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna (IRCCS AOU BO), Bologna, ITALY
Greek Team Composition
- Vasiliki Derri (Scientific Supervisor), Professor, DPESS, DUTh
- Maria Michalopoulou, Professor, DPESS, DUTh, Vice Rector for Research and Lifelong Learning
- Filippos Filippou, Professor, DPESS/DPESS DUTh
- Evangelos Bebetsos, Professor, DPESS/DPESS DUTh
- Kyriaki Emmanouilidou, Special Teaching Staff, DPESS DUTh