New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Initiative category

Identify the award category for which this initiative is being submitted
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most

Email user
gaile.vencloviene@lsmu.lt

Basic information
Initiative title
LM4everyone

Full initiative Title
Lifestyle Medicine for Everyone (LM4everyone): Recover and Inspire

Please provide a short, catchy description of your initiative to be used in communication towards the public.
Lifestyle Medicine for Everyone (LM4everyone): Recover and Inspire
The initiative to create a Lifestyle Medicine program (Programme) has been in line with education tradition at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), based on research of scientifically based evidence about healing power of nature and its resources, for prevention of diseases and regaining health.

What was the geographical scope of your intiative?
Regional

Where was your intiative implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Lithuania

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
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Does your initiative address mainly urban or rural issues?
It addresses urban-rural linkages

Does your initiative refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)

Has your initiative benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
No

Has your initiative won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Does your initiative has a minimum level of maturity? The minimum level of maturity is exemplified by stakeholder/ initiative promoter commitment to implement the initiative in practice and a clear methodology /approach.
Yes

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As a representative of an organisation
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project)
- Name of the organisation(s): Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
  Type of organisation: University or another research institution
  First name of representative: Vilma
  Last name of representative: Kriaučionienė
  Gender: Female
  Nationality: Lithuania
  If relevant, please select your other nationality: Lithuania
  Function: Head of Department of Preventive Medicine
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: A. Mickevičiaus str. 9
  Town: Kaunas
  Postal code: LT-44307
  Country: Lithuania
  Direct Tel: +370 686 35486
  E-mail: vilma.kriaucioniene@lsmu.lt
  Website: https://lsmu.lt/en
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: https://www.facebook.com/lsm54276
In case my initiative is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my initiative in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
New European Bauhaus or European Commission websites

Description of the initiative
Please provide a summary of your initiative
Lifestyle Medicine for Everyone (LM4everyone): Recover and Inspire
The initiative to create a Lifestyle Medicine program (Programme) has been in line with education tradition at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), based on research of scientifically based evidence about healing power of nature and its resources, for prevention of diseases and regaining health.
LM4Everyone - is the logo of our initiative, in line with the main idea of the Programme at Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical Academy, LSMU.
The role of healthy lifestyle is well known in medicine; individual lifestyle behaviours are among the multiple determinants of health. LM was defined as ‘the integration of lifestyle practices into the modern practice of medicine both to lower the risk factors for chronic disease and/or, if disease already present, serve as an adjunct in its therapy. Lifestyle Medicine brings together sound, scientific evidence in diverse health related fields to assist the clinician in the process of not only treating disease, but also promoting good health’.
The last few years have been marked by growth of interest in LM all around Europe, having witnessed LM being introduced to medical education, with an exemplary Programme at LSMU. LM specialists acquire competence in addressing behaviour aspects, including diet, physical activity, stress coping, substance abuse, to help individuals and communities, spreading healthy life without medicine among all ages in diverse societal groups.

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with 5 key words.
1. Lifestyle medicine

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
2. Health

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
3. Inclusive diversity

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
4. Psychoemotional well-being and resillience

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
5. Sustainable lifestyle

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of sustainability and how these have been/will be met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
The unfavourable epidemiological situation of chronic non-infectious diseases (NCDs) in Lithuania and Europe determined the development of the need for competencies in public health (PH) sector and in 2016 the Programme was created. This is the first study programme in Lithuania that prepares PH specialists who can act at the intersection of personal and PH care, providing individual interventions at the level of personal health care.
In order to train directly practice-oriented specialists, in 2019 the second cycle study program PH was updated, significantly supplementing it with practical competencies. LM specialists have expanded the coverage of services in the PH sector in Lithuania: LM graduates can carry out activities in the field of PH, as well as in health care sector, i. e. the activities and competencies of specialists are classified as entities performing other personal health activities subject to the regulation of the personal health sector, and supervision of the activities of specialists is carried out by the state accreditation service for health care activities under the Ministry of Health.
This is a unique study Programme not only in Lithuania but also in Europe. The Programme has already demonstrated its strengths in ability to implement holistic approach towards improving mental, physical and social well-being. Consultation methodology recommendation has been tested in primary health care (PHC) level and proved to be efficient for patients with multimorbidity for all ages and vulnerable groups of society. LM specialists are being involved in the activities of the LSMU Wellness and Health Center to provide consultations for the university community, supporting a values-based culture of collaboration and innovation. The Programme promotes sustainability as lifestyle habits acquired at young age influence future health, long-time durability at work among rapidly ageing populations, which is in line with the European programme of work 2020–2025.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
The aim of the Programme is to train PH and personal health care specialists to assess the risk factors of lifestyle and chronic diseases on community and individual levels, to create a plan for lifestyle correction, health promotion and disease prevention, to motivate and enable a person for changes and then assess the effectiveness of all measures. The Programme is organized in three semesters; paying a special attention to students' practical skills. LM stands out from all the second-cycle study programmes of the field in terms of the formation of competencies of its target content and the form of organization: the fundamental subjects of the field of the programme, for the most part, consist of the main modules: Public Health, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Mental Health and Lifestyle, Practice; almost two-thirds of the Programme is organized remotely (does not apply to professional practice, subject seminars and practical work). During studies competencies enabling to create and implement health promotion and disease prevention programmes, form a patient treatment and health improvement plan, organize work in a multidisciplinary team of health care specialists, form non-pharmacological clinical intervention programmes for patients with chronic diseases, assess patient health indicators, identify lifestyle-related risk factors, also plan, organize health promotion activities in the community, assess the health of the population and the factors affecting it are developed. LM studies are offered in Lithuanian and English languages. LM plays an important role in ageing Europe, by helping to reduce risk factors through lifetime among people with impaired health, NCDs, to reverse biological risks, leading to psycho-emotional well-being and resilience. The Programme increases health literacy and gives space for personal choices, and creativity based on evidence from LM science, enhancing transformations of cultural aesthetics of food, engagement in community activities

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in collaboration with experts from Harvard, Loma Linda, Yale universities has established first master's program in Lifestyle Medicine (LM). LM – non-pharmaceutical interventions for NCD’s prevention, reversion, and treatment. In Lithuania, about 90% of all deaths is due to non-communicable diseases, where 7 out of 10 could be avoided eliminating 5 main risk factors – bad nutrition, lack of physical activity, risk behaviors and environment risks. LSMU LM program covers these main lifestyle related pillars in teaching health care professionals how to implement these risk eliminating competencies for best possible outcomes.
LSMU as a first comprehensive educational center in covering/teaching these competences for the best possible outcomes to the citizens. This unique study program ensures LM related competences for health care professionals, where they implement them through individual and community programs. LM – practice without any boundaries or limitations – evidence-based lifestyle corrections have neither racial nor ethical restrictions – they are universal ones.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the initiative and civil society have been/will be involved in the initiative and what has been/will be the impact of this involvement on the initiative
Integrating Lifestyle Medicine in society: how LM can be accessible to all population groups. Lifestyle (personal choice) is the least costly, highest value-added investment without depreciation. Choice-driven quality of life is one of the biggest public health challenges today, with a focus on sustainable and healthy dietary choices, adapted mobility, elimination of risky behaviors. Lifestyle is not the pursuit of luxury; it is a matter of personal choice. The programme developed at LSMU helps to identify these problematic factors, empowers individuals to modify them correctly and once modified, to maintain them. This would ensure a cycle of safe, sustainable, healthy and happy societies.
LM integration in the healthcare sector. The uniqueness of the LSMU programme/initiative is the integration of lifestyle factor adjustment competencies not only at the community level, but also in personal healthcare, where a strong emphasis is placed not only on education, but also on targeted behavioural change interventions to achieve the best possible clinical health outcomes and a better quality of life.
Specialists trained by the LSMU programme are integrated into primary health care and work in a team of family doctors. Lifestyle medicine specialists can also provide services in specialized medical sectors. In this way, a wide range of community and individual needs are met, reaching different population groups with a broad spectrum of lifestyle correction services ranging from prevention, risk factor correction to specific individual lifestyle plans to manage the onset of chronic diseases.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the initiative.
Program was established back in 2016 in collaboration with experts from Hardvard, Lomalinda, Yalie universities and best clinical practitioners in a United States. The objectives, outcomes and content of the study programme have been accredited globally and the diploma is recognized almost worldwide. The initiative, for the first time in the history of Lithuania, (a) politically, socially and competency-wise merged the personal and public health sectors, (b) competencies of the graduates of the programme have been officially recognized and validated in the personal health sector in Lithuania (specialists can work in multidisciplinary teams, e.g. in endocrinology, gastroenterology, oncology, family physician team, etc), (c) lifestyle medicine interventions/algorithms have been tested in national initiatives (LM interventions for patients with two or more NCD’s), as well as in the Lithuanian military.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your initiative. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was
In order to develop a holistic approach to the program, a wide range of health science disciplines have been involved in its development - including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology, allopathic medicine (various disciplines), veterinary food safety, dietary, public health and health scientists. An interdisciplinary approach being developed, focusing on competences for addressing main risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases in lifestyle related diseases treatment, reversal and prevention. Only evidence based non-pharmaceutical approaches were established and implemented.
The development of the program and its competences has focused on the initiation of inter-institutional collaboration, where the personal and public health sectors have come together to develop a new approach to healthcare - the use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in the treatment and prevention of NCDs. First in a Lithuanian history – Lifestyle Medicine approach officially been recognized in medical field (LM incorporated into family medicine, other medical sectors). Later, the program has evolved by following the latest research and best clinical practice in a field, most of across the Atlantic – American Colleague of Lifestyle Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance.
In cooperation with the USA Air Forces, the program initiated the implementation of Lifestyle and performance medicine in the Lithuanian Military healthcare system.

Please highlight the innovative character of the initiative, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the initiative
A large percentage of premature deaths and chronic diseases could be prevented by adhering to healthy dietary patterns, being physically active and avoiding risk behaviors. Despite all health messages, healthy behaviors are exceptions, not the rule. It will be important in the future to change how practitioners will support individuals in their efforts to live healthier. In most cases, lifestyle-related diseases, with help from modern medicine - save lives and reduce the incidence of disease but do not address the root causes - that is, most chronic diseases are not curable, but only controllable. What is more – many clinical practices guidelines state that lifestyle medicine should be considered as a primary intervention object for treating chronic conditions. Today health practitioners need specific academic training to learn how to promote recommendations for lifestyle changes for health, for prevention and for diseases management, starting by adopting healthy lifestyles themselves.
Lifestyle Medicine – the innovation we all need. Considering recent global events, we believe Lifestyle Medicine to be part of the solution. For society to thrive, flourish and be healthier than ever before. Before the recent covid-19 pandemic, people were running at unprecedented speeds, workloads and levels of stress. Everyone was meeting more deadlines than humanly possible, some traveling halfway across the world for work on Friday and back home on Saturday to be with family. COVID - 19 have shoved, that most vulnerable social group were people with chronic illnesses, where most of them lifestyle related. For example, during the earliest months of the COVID-19 pandemic, lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and obesity were implicated as factors that raised the risk of hospitalization and death from the infection.

Please describe which elements of your initiative could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and contexts. This may involve, for example, aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings, etc.
The LSMU Lifestyle Medicine Initiative is expanding its areas of expertise and is involved in improving the well-being and health of other important systems or groups in Lithuania. In cooperation with the American military structures, we have integrated the initiative and expertise into the health care system of Lithuanian soldiers. The LM Competence Centre developed and implemented a 14-day lifestyle and performance medicine immersion program for Lithuanian military personnel with at least one chronic disorder. Based on the results of the initiative/intervention, a guideline algorithm was developed for routine maintenance and control of healthy lifestyle in soldiers. Further actions: working in a filed with American Armed Forces, Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense, that Lifestyle and Performance Medicine model could be replicated in other European NATO countries.
Further plans and actions:
Development of the principles of Lifestyle Medicine in the Lithuanian Military Officer training system, with the possibility of integrating LM into the training of future military leaders (education).
Corporate Lifestyle Medicine - an approach for supporting employee well-being. As employers seek to support employee well-being and respond to the novel challenges of hybrid and remote workforces, they should consider new approaches. One approach called "Lifestyle Medicine" offers holistic support to employees and complements—particularly in a virtual form—other elements of employer-provided healthcare.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your initiative.
Lifestyle Medicine study program is a valuable tool for education. The knowledge acquired is of great value for communities and individuals, in optimizing their lifestyle, inclusiveness and sustainability. LM programme covers holistic approach to health outcomes and overall well-being: through principles and actions on nutrition, physical activity, sustainability of personal choices and other movements, psycho-emotional resilience and social integrity - to achieve the best possible health and well-being of patients and population.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the initiative addresses by providing local solutions
The more of us who are engaged in efforts to think globally, act locally starting from within our own communities, the more likely we are to collectively transform the larger world. In other words, when you act to support your local community—including your local economy, local ecosystem, local language, local culture, local partners, and local programs—you are making important contributions to improvements in living standards, sustainability, and economic fairness the world over.
Noncommunicable diseases kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally. Each year, 17 million people die from a NCD before age 70; 86% of these premature deaths. Same chalanges facing and Lithuania, were about 90% of all deaths is due to non-communicable diseases, and 7 out of 10 could be avoided eliminating 5 main risk factors – bad nutrition, lack of physical activity, risk behaviours and environment risks.
Patient care guidelines for the initial treatment of the most common lifestyle-related chronic disorders — such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and heart disease — typically include lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating a healthier diet, and getting more exercise, rather than starting treatment with medication. LSMU LM program covers these main lifestyle related pillars in teaching health care professionals how to implement these risk eliminating competencies for best possible outcomes.

Please detail the scope of progress in the implementation of the initiative. This can include already demonstrated results/outputs related to the chosen Prizes category, and the already achieved benefits from the initiative for direct and indirect beneficiaries. This can also include a development plan of the initiative, with a particular attention to the steps envisaged in the year following the application, and including envisaged results and benefits from the initiative
Lifestyle Medicine study program was established in 2016. During this period, both the research and the practical dissemination of the programme have evolved: (a) politically, socially and competency-wise merged the personal and public health sectors, (b) competencies of the graduates of the programme have been officially recognized and validated in the personal health sector in Lithuania (specialists can work in multidisciplinary teams, e.g. in endocrinology, gastroenterology, oncology, family physician team, etc. ), Lifestyle Medicine interventions/algorithms have been tested in national initiatives (LM interventions for patients with two or more NCD’s), as well as in the Lithuanian Military, (c) have been developed and tested lifestyle medicine clinical algorithms/protocols; (d) Lifestyle Medicine education touched almost all sectors and social groups; (e) Lifestyle Medicine program and its competencies were recognized by the leaders in a field.

Please provide documents that demonstrate the maturity level of the initiative and commitment to implement the initiative in practice (e.g.: evaluation report, final or mid-term initiative report, certification, publications, building permit, grant agreement, letter of support, partnership agreement, etc.)
Web link
Web link
- https://www.prweb.com/releases/american_college_of_lifestyle_medicine_presents_award_of_excellence_to_lithuanian_university_of_health_sciences_for_europes_first_lifestyle_medicine_masters_program/prweb16776966.htm
If relevant, please describe how your initiative contributes to developing new competences, especially in the context of the European competence framework on sustainability.
Sustainable consumption is the conscious use of services and products designed to meet our basic needs and create a better quality of life. Sustainable use aims to reduce the wastage of natural resources, reduce the emission of waste and pollutants. Sustainable consumption could be implemented through frugal use, frugal purchasing, choice of organic goods, waste sorting, waste reuse - recycling.
Our Lifestyle Medicine study program educates healthy lifestyle professionals who are changing society's attitude to health and lifestyle. Our goal is to change the lifestyle habits and behavior of members of society, we aim to reduce the negative impact on the environment caused by our activities. The changing climate, increasing economic activity on Earth, growing human population and living standards have created the basis for the formation of sustainable lifestyles and responsible and healthy food consumption behavior. Sustainable food consumption behavior includes not only choosing organic, antibiotic- and pesticide-free food, but also focuses on food-related areas, the quality of product packaging materials, the spread of microplastics in the environment, food waste and CO2 emissions, energy consumption and other indicators.
These objectives of the study program correspond to the objectives of the European Union Learning for the green transition and sustainable development.
As the European Commission supports efforts to equip learners and educators with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for a greener and more sustainable society, help education and training institutions to integrate sustainability into teaching and learning, create a shared understanding on the deep and transformative changes needed in education and training for sustainability and the green transition.
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images or visual representations of your initiative to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below.
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By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that you are not in in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation.
Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed initiative has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the initiative and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their initiatives, initiative, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted initiative, initiative is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes