Combating Physical Inactivity Pandemic in Kindergartens

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Physical Activity; Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Treatments: Other: Usual Care Control; Behavioral: Physical Activity Enhanced Curriculum

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05521490

HK-KIDFIT

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of a kindergarten-based, parent-involved intervention during the upper kindergarten year (K3) on physical activity and physical fitness in preschool children.

Full description

This study is a two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial. Kindergartens will be randomly allocated to two groups: the usual care group and the intervention group. The usual care group will continue with their usual curriculum, which includes 30 minutes of daily physical activity stipulated by the Hong Kong SAR Government's Education Bureau. The intervention group will receive an additional 2.5 hours of physical activity per week in addition to the stipulated 30 minutes of daily physical activity. Outcome measures will be examined at baseline, 10 months (post-intervention), and 16 months (follow-up).

Enrollment: 3,300 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 6 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Children aged 5-6 years (limited number of children may be between 4-5 and 6-7 years)
2. Able to communicate in Chinese
3. Able to participate in physical activity in a standard kindergarten setting

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inherent or serious disease limiting participation in physical activity (e.g., congenital heart disease, pediatric cancer, Down syndrome).
2. Diagnosed mental illness impairing daily behavior and performance (e.g., anxiety disorder, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, psychotic disorders, autism spectrum disorder).
3. Physical disability (e.g., physical handicap, assistive device to walk).
4. Visual or hearing impairment.
5. Cognitive deficit or intellectual disability that requires special care and educational needs (e.g., handicapped children with learning difficulties).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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3,300 participants in 2 patient groups

Usual Care Control

Other group

Description:

Children allocated to the control group will continue with their usual curriculum, which includes the stipulated 30 minutes of daily physical activity.

Treatment:

Other: Usual Care Control

Physical Activity Enhanced Curriculum

Experimental group

Description:

Children allocated to the intervention group will receive enhanced physical fitness and healthy lifestyle education and a physical activity enhanced curriculum during their school year.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical Activity Enhanced Curriculum