Change Physical Activity and School Play Space. Randomized Study Protocol. (Play&Cognition)

Universidad Autónoma de Chile

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Behavior, Child; Cognitive Function; Physical Activity; Children

Treatments: Behavioral: Physical activity

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05020041

01-20

Details and patient eligibility

About

Physical activity is a factor that contributes to a motor and cognitive development in early childhood. Currently, childhood obesity has grown steadily in Chile. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a school environmental intervention on the physical activity and cognitive functions in 1st-grade schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study will use a randomized experimental design with a sample of 300 schoolchildren divided into a control and an intervention group (n=150 each group). Sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle of the schoolchildren will be obtained through a questionnaire answered by parents/guardians. Cognitive function will be evaluated using the TENI test by tablet and physical activity will be measured during 7 consecutive days using accelerometers (Actigraph GT3X and wGT3X-BT). Both groups will receive a lecture aimed at schoolchildren. Teachers of the intervention group will also receive a talk regarding the intervention that will take place in their school environment, which includes a circuit of psychomotor games painted on the recess playground floor. ANCOVA analysis will be performed, adjusted for age and sex; then, a multivariate linear regression model will be applied considering the significant variables and adjustment. The significance level will be p<.05. SPSSv25 and R version 3.14 will be used for the analyses. The intervention is expected to contribute to the increase of physical activity favoring the school environment within a context of vulnerability and with a low-cost initiative

Enrollment: 300 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 8 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• The inclusion criteria for the participating students are a) children enrolled in 1st-grade in municipal schools in the city of Talca; b) without impediments to physical activity; c) able to understand an order considering their age; d) residents in the commune of Talca; and e) with a commitment not to change school or residence during the duration of the project.

Exclusion criteria

• The exclusion criteria are presenting any medical condition that prevents the development of the evaluations and/or presenting any behavioral disorder condition.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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300 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

The implementation of painted games will consist of adapting a space destined for recreation, designing a psychomotor circuit that does not require contact between peers, or manipulation of objects to maintain COVID-19 sanitary and safety protocols. The schools in the intervention group will receive the online educational talk aimed at schoolchildren and a talk aimed at Physical Education teachers.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical activity

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

The schools participating in the control group will receive an online educational talk aimed at promoting healthy habits and the benefits of physical activity inside and outside the school environment.