Methods: To initiate the project, we leveraged the evaluation report [1] and preliminary study [3] to design an introductory event and communication strategy to recruit men, which were tested in this project. According to the literature, we had focus on:

• Communication should be directly targeted towards men, both visually and linguistically.

• Communication should be differentiated based on gender, geography, life situation, and media channels.

• The communication and activity should strike a balance between health, training, and community.

• Communication campaigns should also target the male participants’ partners.

With the aim of attracting more men to our program: Exercising in Nature, we offered a series of introductory events designed to provide men with a taste of the program. These 2 hours events consisted of outdoor physical activity tailored for 10-15 men and a strong sense of community through shared meals and campfires. Eight nationwide events were held on the same day, attracting approximately 100 participants. The events were supported by national press coverage in order to get focus on the importance of physical activity among men. The introductory events were evaluated by 1) A survey among all participants in the events, 2) interview with the leaders of the events and 3) Media coverage.

Results: As a result of the new communication strategy and targeted recruitment, new, men-only exercise groups have been established in several locations. In response to this trend, we are planning to develop a special trainingprogram tailored to the unique needs of male nature-trainers for the upcoming spring. In early 2025, we will expand our reach towards men to multiple cities. The evaluation of the eight nationwide events showed, that 91% of participants gained knowledge of the positive effects of nature-based exercise, while 94% felt inspired to engage in outdoor physical activities with others. These findings underscore the effectiveness of our events in promoting nature-based exercise. Additionally, the project has generated considerable media interest at the regional level. We aim to present the results and examples of marketing materials targeted at men of this initiative at EULAR 2025.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Exercising in Nature programs continue to be a popular and effective intervention within Danish Rheumatism Association, with a growing male participation. Specific communication efforts and targeted outreach to men, such as men-only introductory events, have notably influenced attitudes and participation levels among male members. Future efforts will focus on refining nature-based training for men by identifying and addressing the unique needs and preferences of male-only training communities. The development of additional introductory events and an online training platform are key initiatives for men the next years.

REFERENCES: [1] Report on nature-based exercise for people with arthritis, conducted by PROgrez in 2024

[2] Andersson, S., Ahler, J. R., Tang, L. H., Aagaard, T. V., Skou, S. T., & Simonÿ, C. (Year of Publication). “I Prefer High-Intensity Exercise”—A Qualitative Study of Men’s Experiences with a Nature-Based Exercise Program for People with Arthritis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024.

[3] Men’s Health Forum. (2024). Preliminary Study on Outdoor Exercise and Men’s Health.

Acknowledgements: NIL.

Disclosure of Interests: None declared.

© The Authors 2025. This abstract is an open access article published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ). Neither EULAR nor the publisher make any representation as to the accuracy of the content. The authors are solely responsible for the content in their abstract including accuracy of the facts, statements, results, conclusion, citing resources etc.