Guidelines for Designing Information Resources That Promote Equal Opportunities
Certain social groups face particularly significant challenges, yet at the same time have particularly limited resources to cope with them. As a result, people with low incomes, low levels of education, chronic illnesses, or disabilities, for example, generally do not have sufficient access to health information.
Im Rahmen des nationalen Programms „Richtig essen von Anfang an!“ (REVAN) wurde ein Dokument zur Entwicklung chancengerechter Beratungsangebote und Informationsmaterialien erstellt, um insbesondere die Erreichung von Menschen in benachteiligten Lebenssituationen zu verbessern. Die Erkenntnisse bzw. Empfehlungen im Leitfaden „Gestaltung von chancengerechten Informationsangeboten“ gingen aus aktueller Literatur, der gemeinsamen Reflexion und Diskussion mit Vertreter:innen verschiedener Psychosozial- und Gesundheitsberufe sowie einem Konsultationsprozess hervor.
Recommendations for the equitable further development of REVAN programs:
There is a general need in Austria for quality-assured, understandable, and easily accessible nutrition information. REVAN initiatives are therefore designed to reach as many people as possible, regardless of their life circumstances or degree of disadvantage.
As a first step, we must identify target groups in which many stressors are concentrated and which therefore have a particularly high need for intervention.
There is no “one-size-fits-all solution”; measures tailored to the target group must be developed by applying best-practice criteria (such as participation and low barriers to access) and strategies (such as tailoring). In addition to environmental prevention measures, outreach services in the respective settings and living environments (residential areas, cultural organizations, preschools, schools, workplaces, public spaces, etc.) are particularly recommended.
Collaboration with stakeholders (“bridge-builders,” “multipliers”) who are already in contact with the selected target groups is essential for the creation and dissemination of low-threshold REVAN services. Exchange and collaboration must also be intensified within the REVAN program itself.
Professional groups such as doctors, midwives, family support workers, and family counselors also need easy-to-understand informational materials (counseling handouts and background information) on the topic of “healthy eating” for their counseling work.
Existing REVAN programs for people facing disadvantages should be evaluated (who is being reached, what are the factors contributing to their success, etc.) and rolled out or replicated in other federal states or regions.
Spezifische Fortbildungen durch umsetzungserfahrene Praktiker:innen sind für REVAN-Programmverantwortliche sowie für REVAN-Fachexpert:innen zu organisieren.
