Health initiative in European national swimming federations

BACKGROUND: The International Swimming Federation (FINA), Continental Swimming Federations (CFs) and National Swimming Federations (NFs) oversee a high number of athletes and have a duty to protect their health and also an opportunity to improve public health through their activities. METHODS: A descriptive transversal survey was circulated among the 53 European NFs requesting information regarding the profile of the medical personnel of the European NFs, the importance that the European NFs place on the health of their athletes, the promotion of health in their society and the programs activities/research that they engage in to promote health. In each qualification, the European NFs have been divided into five groups according to the degree to which their responses were similar to those of the other European NFs (similarity study). RESULTS: The results show that 58% of the European NFs have doctors and 64% have physiotherapists. For 48% their top priority is the health of their elite athletes and for 10% of the European NFs the top priority is to improve the health of the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, European NFs have appropriate medical personal within their NF or National team. However, they have reported that health promotion is not a top priority for them. There is a need to improve their general health promotion programs. Plans and strategies could be implemented in order promote health in the general population.