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Specchio

New developments in health promotion and prevention in the local context

Mayssam Nehme, Hélène Baysson, Aminata Bouhet, Anshu Uppal, Shannon Mechoullam, Julien Lamour, Marie Léocadie, Clotilde Rambaud-Althaus, Stephanie Schrempft, Silvia Stringhini, Alessandro Cassini, Idris Guessous, for the Specchio study.
New developments in health promotion and prevention contextualised to the local landscapeSwiss Medical Journal, 21 : 167-71, 29 January 2025, doi: 10.53738/REVMED.2025.21.903.167

Abstract

This article presents the latest recommendations on health promotion and prevention, aimed primarily at healthcare professionals and public health actors. They are put into perspective with the Geneva data from the Specchio longitudinal study, commissioned by the Office Cantonal de la Santé in Geneva and analysing the state of health of the Geneva population and its determinants. This article looks at the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, nutrition, obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption in Geneva, along with related recommendations. Specchio data can be used to guide health promotion and prevention initiatives, and to select the most appropriate recommendations for the local context.

Methods: The Specchio study, launched in 2022 as a follow-up to the Specchio-Covid19 study, collects data on general health, mental health, social determinants, health behaviours, environmental exposures, access to care and ageing, among other things. The questionnaires are available via a dedicated digital platform (specchio-hub.ch) to encourage people to take part and retain their loyalty over time. Recruitment (which remains open) is open to any adult living or working in the canton of Geneva. Longitudinal follow-up using questionnaires (online or in hard copy) is proposed.

Results: In 2024, 7,582 people were part of Specchio, with an average age of 51, 57% of whom were women. A total of 63% had a tertiary level of education, and 77% were Swiss nationals. The results show that 80% of Genevans say they are in good or very good health, but that there are still social and gender disparities.

According to Specchio data from 2024:

  • When it comes to physical exercise, 59% of people are sufficiently active. Men are more often sufficiently active than women (65% vs 54%). The proportion of people who are sufficiently active in their free time increases with the level of education.
  • Genevans spend an average of 6 hours a day in a seated position. This rises to 8 hours or more per day for 24% of the population. A sedentary lifestyle is particularly worrying for young people. 40% of 18-24 year-olds spend 8 hours or more a day in a seated position.
  • Only 20% of Genevans eat 5 portions of fruit or vegetables a day. 22% eat less than one portion of fruit a day, and 10% less than one portion of vegetables a day. Women are more likely than men to follow the nutritional recommendations (23% vs. 15%), as are older people and those with a higher level of education.
  • When it comes to alcohol consumption, men are less likely than women to be abstainers. Men are more likely than women to have at least one binge drink a month (24% vs. 11%). A reverse social gradient is observed for alcohol consumption. For example, people with a high level of education consume alcohol more frequently than those with a low level of education.
  • 30% of Genevans are overweight and 12% obese. Overweight and obesity affect 51% of people with primary education, 43% with secondary education and 36% with tertiary education. Significantly more men than women are overweight (37% versus 23%).
  • 13% of Genevans have probable depressive disorders. This rate rises to 19% in the 25-44 age group, or almost one in five people in this age bracket.
  • 31% of people with primary education report low social support, compared with 13% of those with tertiary education, and 24% of those with primary education report a high degree of loneliness or isolation, compared with 10% of those with tertiary education.

Conclusion: The Specchio study, from which the data presented here are derived, will enable the health of the people of Geneva to be monitored over time. This local epidemiological data, coupled with scientific recommendations, will provide essential insights for improving the relevance and impact of health promotion and prevention efforts in Geneva. The prospects and challenges ahead include increasing the sample size of the Specchio study, including more diverse profiles, and ensuring the loyalty of participants over the coming years.

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