The HSE’s physiotherapy services have been supporting an Urban Action Against Cancer (UcanACT) programme in Kilkenny, where the emphasis is on physical activity in public, urban green spaces towards cancer prevention.
Staged throughout 2024 and funded by the Erasmus+ instrument of the European Commission, UcanACT has operated as a pilot project and an inter-sectoral initiative bringing together physiotherapists, local authorities, non-profit organisations and higher education and research institutions from Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy and Ireland. The project’s overall objective was to engage adult and senior citizens in open-air exercise to the benefit of their health.
The field of cancer prevention was chosen by the UcanACT project partners due to the high urgency and importance of this topic for European public health. Cancer prevention, treatment and care were recognised by the Von der Leyen EU Commission as a main priority in the area of health.
As an inter-sectoral initiative and with the UcanACT’s Irish arm based in the Kilkenny area, the project was a collaboration between physiotherapists from both HSE and private practice, the Irish Society of Charted Physiotherapists, Kilkenny County Council, students from the University of Limerick, research members from Trinity College Dublin and local, non-profit organisations such as Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre in Kilkenny. All came together in recognition of health promotion as a multi-agency interest.
Over the duration of the project, which was led out by Janette Boran (Healthy Kilkenny Co-ordinator with Kilkenny County Council), there have been stages of needs analysis, questionnaires and focus groups, an engagement strategy, physical activity sessions supported by physiotherapists and an associated App trialed by participants. It was all towards an increased awareness of health outcomes.
Speaking about the UcanACT project in Kilkenny, Sinead Gavin (Physiotherapy Manager, HSE Community Services Carlow/Kilkenny) says:
“Participants aged over 50 years were invited to take part in physiotherapy-led one hour physical activity sessions, twice weekly in two pilot rounds during 2024. Each pilot consisted of at least 11 sessions of physical activity, with the activity programme devised based on current research.
The results of Pilot One showed improvements across a number of outcome measures. So, the qualitative evaluation was also very positive.”
“The aim following this second pilot is to collect and evaluate results and data and then present the data and results to stakeholders. We look forward to opportunities into the future to support this pathway, which exemplifies a collaborative community-based physical activity initiative for people at risk and also living with or surviving cancer.”
Last updated on: 11 / 02 / 2025
