Program Evaluation of an In-school Daily Physical Activity Initiative

McMaster University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity; Children, Only

Treatments: Behavioral: Daily physical activity intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03618927

INCH_S2F

Details and patient eligibility

About

The school system is one setting in which children's physical activity levels may be increased through daily physical activity (DPA) policies and initiatives. Adherence to DPA policies is typically poor and results are limited in regard to the associated benefits for participating children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate a range of psychosocial outcomes following a community-led, in-school DPA initiative for 9-14 year old children and youth. This program evaluation examined the impact of a DPA program consisting of 20 minutes of teacher-led DPA for 20 consecutive weeks. Student outcomes were measured using a questionnaire administered at three time points: baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention. A teacher questionnaire regarding program adherence and student behaviour was completed at post-intervention.

Enrollment: 362 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 9 to 14 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants will include males and females between the ages of 9-14.
• Participants must be enrolled in one of 30 elementary school classes across the participating seven elementary schools.
• Participants need to be able to read and write in English

Exclusion criteria

• Participants not enrolled in one of the participating classes.
• Unable to read and write in English.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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362 participants in 2 patient groups

Daily physical activity intervention

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention consisted of a DPA program designed by a national organization with expertise in school-based physical activity programming and delivered in school by teachers. The program was offered to students in grades 4 through 8 and consisted of 20 minutes of structured DPA in school for 20 consecutive weeks. The DPA activities included jumping jacks, squats, running and other body weight exercises.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Daily physical activity intervention

Control - treatment as usual

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in control classes completed regular school activities as per the Ontario curriculum.