scholarly journals Effects of the Active Choices program on self-managed physical activity and social connectedness in Australian Defence Force veterans: Protocol for a cluster-randomised trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas D Gilson ◽  
Zoe E Papinczak ◽  
Gregore Iven Mielke ◽  
Catherine Haslam ◽  
Jonas Fooken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Cluster Randomised Trial ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Behavioural Support ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
Australian Defence Force

BACKGROUND A stepped-down program is one in which clients transition from the care of a health professional to self-managed care. Very little is known about the effectiveness of stepped-down physical activity (PA) programs for military service veterans. OBJECTIVE This study will test Active Choices, a stepped-down behavioural support program designed to help Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans and their dependants who are clients of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), transition from treatment by an exercise physiologist (EP) or physiotherapist to self-managed PA. METHODS The study is a cluster-randomised trial, with city-based EP or physiotherapy practices that recruit eligible DVA clients assigned to Active Choices or a comparison program. The study aims to recruit 104 participants (52 in each group). The Active Choices program will consist of two face-to-face (Weeks 1, 12) and two telephone (Weeks 4 and 8) consultations. During these sessions, the participant and Active Choices consultant will utilise an evidence-based resource booklet to review the key benefits of an active lifestyle, build an action plan for PA preferences, set and review goals, self-monitor progress relative to set goals, and discuss strategies to overcome PA barriers. Linking participants to local PA communities to overcome social isolation will be a program priority. The comparison program will consist of two consultations (Weeks 1 and 12) and use fewer behavioural support strategies (education, self-monitoring and action planning only) than Active Choices. Outcome measures will be administered at baseline, end-intervention (12 weeks), and follow-up (24 weeks) to assess changes in self-managed PA, psychological wellbeing and social connectedness. We will also measure health service utilisation and costs, and PA choices across the intervention period. End-intervention interviews will capture participant experiences. RESULTS Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on human research activities in Australia, participant recruitment will commence when it is safe and feasible to do so. CONCLUSIONS Findings will provide valuable pilot data to support up-scaling of the program, and larger effectiveness trials with regional and rural, as well as city-based ADF veterans and their dependants. CLINICALTRIAL The trial is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12620000559910; https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12620000559910.aspx

scholarly journals Active Play in After-school Programmes: development of an intervention and description of a matched-pair cluster-randomised trial assessing physical activity play in after-school programmes

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e016585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsti Riiser ◽  
Sølvi Helseth ◽  
Hanna Ellingsen ◽  
Bjørg Fallang ◽  
Knut Løndal
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
First Graders ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Matched Pair ◽  
After School ◽  
Cluster Randomised Trial ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Active Play ◽  
Cluster Randomised

IntroductionInterventions delivered in after-school programmes (ASPs) have the potential to become a means of ensuring adequate physical activity among schoolchildren. This requires a motivational climate, allowing for self-determined play. If trained, ASP staff may represent a valuable resource for supporting such play. Increasing knowledge and supportive skills among ASP staff may also potentially increase their motivation for work. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of the ‘Active Play in ASP’ intervention, which aims to promote physical activity among first graders attending ASP, and to present a protocol for a matched-pair cluster-randomised trial to evaluate the intervention.Methods and analysisInformed by experiences from practice, evidence-based knowledge and theory, the intervention was developed in a stepwise process including focus group meetings and a small-scale pilot test. The intervention contains a course programme for ASP staff to increase their skills in how to support physical activity through play. In a cluster randomised controlled trial, the ASPs will be matched and randomly allocated to receive the 7-month intervention or to a control group. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after 7 and 19 months. First graders attending the ASPs included are eligible. The primary outcome will be accelerometer-determined minutes in moderate to vigorous physical activity in the ASP. The study uses a mixed methods approach including observations and interviews to provide rich descriptions of the concept of children's physical activity in ASP. Moreover, the trial will assess whether the ASP staff benefits from participation in the intervention in terms of increased work motivation. Lastly, process evaluations of programme fidelity, satisfaction and suggestions on improvement will be performed.Ethics and disseminationThe study is approved by the Data Protection Official for Research (reference no 46008). Results will be presented in conferences and peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberClinical Trials (NCT02954614), pre-results.

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