Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41073993›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

The Okanagan charter in action: mapping health promotion strategies in Italian state universities in 2025.

Sara Maria Pani, Alessandra Mereu, Luca Floris, Laura Brunelli, Federica Cadoni, Paolo Contu, Michela Fanti, Patrizia Lemma, Francesco Paglino, Giacomo Scaioli and 2 more

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Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Sara Maria PaniDepartment of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Alessandra MereuDepartment of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. amereu@unica.it.
Luca FlorisSchool of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Laura BrunelliFriuli Centrale Healthcare University Trust, Udine, Italy.
Federica CadoniSchool of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Paolo ContuDepartment of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Michela FantiSchool of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Patrizia LemmaDepartment of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Francesco PaglinoLocal Health Authority, Toscana Centro, Florence,, Italy.
Giacomo ScaioliDepartment of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Maria Francesca PiazzaUniversity Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Claudia SarduDepartment of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTen years after the launch of the Okanagan Charter, which called on universities to embed health promotion principles and values into their core strategies, this study investigates how Italian state universities have responded. By analyzing updated strategic plans, we assessed the integration of health and wellbeing principles into their policies, mission, vision, and programming, and identified good practices to be offered to the stakeholders.

methodsA deductive content analysis was conducted on the strategic plans of 45 out of 61 Italian state universities. A multidisciplinary team developed a coding framework based on key health promotion themes: participation, wellbeing-centered mission and vision, psycho-physical, social, and organizational wellbeing, sustainability, and equity. Each plan was independently reviewed by three researchers randomly selected out of 12, and findings were synthesized narratively.

results45 Italian state universities had updated strategic plans, most developed through top-down processes. Only 40% explicitly referenced wellbeing in their mission and vision. While 90% addressed sustainability, mainly energy-related, other aspects like mobility, waste, and food received less attention. Equity was widely considered: 89% promoted inclusion and gender equality, 58% offered tax relief, and 40% provided inmate education. Mental wellbeing was addressed in 64% of plans, social wellbeing in 60%, and healthy lifestyles in 42%. Collaboration with health services was rare, and preventive strategies were limited. The study identified a set of good practices, low-cost, actionable, and community-oriented, that can serve as practical tools to support the implementation of health promotion strategies in universities.

conclusionsItalian universities showed a growing but uneven commitment to health promotion. Despite frequent references to wellbeing, its integration remains partial and sectoral. This study identified key areas for improvement, such as participation, and highlighted a selection of good practices. These practices offer actionable and replicable models that, through advocacy, can support the development of healthier, more inclusive, supportive university environments.

Indexed as

AcademiaHealth PromotionHumansItalyOrganizational ObjectivesUniversitiesCommunity participationEquityHealth policiesHealth promoting universitiesOrganizational wellbeingPsychophysical wellbeingSocial wellbeingSustainability

Identifiers

PMID41073993
PMCPMC12512836

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.