4. Promoting professional behaviour change in prevention and health promotion

The science-based advancement of prevention and health promotion requires the systematic qualification of decision-makers and practitioners across disciplinary boundaries, including law enforcement. Research on diffusion and implementation has highlighted the need to actively promote evidence-based practices. Continuing education programs such as the European Prevention Curriculum for Decision, Opinion and Policymakers or 'Frontline Politeia', a qualification program for practitioners in drug prevention, crime prevention and health promotion that is currently under development as part of a project funded by the European Commission, are examples of user-centered interventions, that address the growing demand for interdisciplinarity and professionalisation in public health practice.

Review on literature of professional behaviour change in healthcare and prevention and descriptive analysis of the evaluation of EUPC-trainings in Germany conducted between 2020 and 2022.

Effective approaches exist to bridge gaps between prevention research and practice and to answer the increasing demand for professional development. An increased focus on risk and protective factors can help to overcome disciplinary boundaries and create synergies between health promotion, drug prevention and violence prevention.

The establishment of virtual communities of practice, increased provision of evidence-based practical knowledge in degree programs such as public health, social work, or psychology, and systematic and needs-oriented continuing education for practitioners - including law enforcement - are necessary to mitigate the increasing disconnect between prevention research and practice. No contributions were received.