A Rigorous Evaluation of the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Education Outcomes

Emory University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity

Treatments: Behavioral: Intervention Arm

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03765047

74281 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

IRB00095600

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study is a prospective study to examine the impact of a school-based physical activity intervention on fourth and fifth grade elementary students' academic achievement, as measured by standardized test scores.

Full description

Serving more than 95% of US children ages 5-17, the school environment is a valuable setting to engage students in Physical Activity (PA) through the day, but is limited when physical education programs have insufficient curricular, time, financial and staffing allocations. A growing body of research supports the premise that interventions focused on increasing physical activity in schools may be more successful if supported by evidence that increased PA improves academic achievement, that is the clear priority for limited school time and resources.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a school-based physical activity intervention on fourth and fifth grade elementary students' academic achievement, as measured by standardized test scores. Baseline information about current physical activity practices will be collected. Schools will receive ongoing in-person and virtual training, and schools will be provided physical activity equipment, resources, and teaching aids. Student accelerometer data will allow for monitoring of physical activity levels. This study seeks to address gaps in the literature by studying the efficacy of a well-established intervention that has been shown to impact school physical activities practices, and shows promise of efficacy for improving student education outcomes.

Enrollment: 4,968 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 4th grade students from the elementary schools in the Gwinnett County district

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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4,968 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention Arm

Experimental group

Description:

This study arm includes the schools where the School Team (school teachers, coordinator) receives the physical activity intervention. The intervention consists of four parts: 1. School Engagement and Assessment 2. Training 3. Physical Activity Equipment and Resources 4. Ongoing Assessment and Technical Assistance

Treatment:

Behavioral: Intervention Arm

Control Arm

No Intervention group

Description:

The control arm includes the schools where the School Team does not receive any intervention but all the necessary data will be collected.