scholarly journals Action 3:30R: Results of a Cluster Randomised Feasibility Study of a Revised Teaching Assistant-Led Extracurricular Physical Activity Intervention for 8 to 10 Year Olds

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Jago ◽  
Byron Tibbitts ◽  
Emily Sanderson ◽  
Emma L. Bird ◽  
Alice Porter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
After School ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
The Difference ◽  
And Control ◽  
Programme Delivery

Many children are not sufficiently physically active. We conducted a cluster-randomised feasibility trial of a revised after-school physical activity (PA) programme delivered by trained teaching assistants (TAs) to assess the potential evidence of promise for increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Participants (n = 335) aged 8–10 years were recruited from 12 primary schools in South West England. Six schools were randomised to receive the intervention and six acted as non-intervention controls. In intervention schools, TAs were trained to deliver an after-school programme for 15 weeks. The difference in mean accelerometer-assessed MVPA between intervention and control schools was assessed at follow-up (T1). The cost of programme delivery was estimated. Two schools did not deliver the intervention, meaning four intervention and six control schools were analysed at T1. There was no evidence for a difference in MVPA at T1 between intervention and control groups. Programme delivery cost was estimated at £2.06 per pupil per session. Existing provision in the 12 schools cost £5.91 per pupil per session. Action 3:30 was feasible to deliver and considerably cheaper than existing after-school provision. No difference in weekday MVPA was observed at T1 between the two groups, thus progression to a full trial is not warranted.

scholarly journals A revised teaching assistant-led extracurricular physical activity programme for 8- to 10-year-olds: the Action 3:30R feasibility cluster RCT

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (19) ◽  
pp. 1-128
Author(s):  
Russell Jago ◽  
Byron Tibbitts ◽  
Alice Porter ◽  
Emily Sanderson ◽  
Emma Bird ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Teaching Assistants ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
After School ◽  
Physical Activity Programme

Background Many children do not meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity. The after-school period may be a critical time for children to participate in physical activity. Teaching assistants are important within the school system and could be trained to deliver after-school physical activity programmes. Our previous work showed that a teaching assistant-led after-school physical activity intervention held promise. Objectives To examine the feasibility, evidence of promise and cost of Action 3:30R, a revised after-school physical activity intervention. Design A cluster-randomised feasibility study, including process and economic evaluations. Setting The setting was 12 primary schools in south-west England. Participants The participants were Year 4 and 5 children (aged 8–10 years). Intervention Two teaching assistants from each intervention school attended a 25-hour (5-day) training course focused on how to deliver an after-school physical activity programme. As Action 3:30 is grounded in self-determination theory, the training focused on promoting children’s autonomy, belonging and competence. Teaching assistants received resources to aid them in delivering a 60-minute after-school physical activity programme twice per week for 15 weeks (i.e. 30 sessions). Main outcome measures Measures focused on feasibility outcomes and evidence of promise. Feasibility measures included the recruitment of schools and pupils and the attendance at the after-school programme. Evidence of promise was measured by comparing accelerometer-determined minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity between the arms at follow-up. Process evaluation measures were conducted using the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework. The cost of delivery was also assessed. Results Twelve primary schools were recruited and 41% of eligible pupils consented, 49% of whom were girls. Schools were randomised after baseline measures: six to the intervention arm (n = 170 pupils) and six to the control arm (n = 165 pupils). Two schools allocated to the intervention arm withdrew from the study before the start of the intervention, leaving 111 pupils in the intervention arm. The intervention training was well attended and positively received; eight out of nine teaching assistants attended 100% of the sessions. Action 3:30R clubs were well attended; 74% of pupils attended at least 50% of the 30 sessions. Mean weekday moderate to vigorous physical activity did not differ between the arms at follow-up (–0.5 minutes, 95% confidence interval –4.57 to 3.57 minutes). The process evaluation revealed that Action 3:30R was received positively by pupils, teaching assistants and key contacts in intervention schools. Pupils enjoyed Action 3:30R, and teaching assistants and pupils perceived the teaching style to be autonomy-supportive. Economic evaluation showed that Action 3:30R is inexpensive; the estimated cost of the programme after 1 year was £1.64 per pupil per session. Limitations A reason for withdrawing was given by one school but not by the other. The reason given was an inability to release staff for training. Conclusions Action 3:30R is a low-cost, feasible after-school programme that engages a range of pupils and offers continuing professional development to teaching assistants. However, Action 3:30R does not show evidence of promise in increasing levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity and does not warrant a trial evaluation. Future work Future research should focus on improving the quality of current after-school provision in primary schools to increase physical activity. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN34001941. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 7, No. 19. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

School-based physical activity opportunities in PE lessons and after-school hours: Are they associated with children’s daily physical activity?

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peggy Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sedentary Behaviour ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
After School ◽  
School Sports ◽  
School Based ◽  
School Sport ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
School Day

School-based physical activity (PA), including activity during physical education (PE) lessons and after-school hours, is a possible opportunity for increasing children’s daily PA. The purposes of this study were (a) to compare children’s school-based PA levels during PE lessons and after-school hours and (b) to examine whether there is a difference in children’s PA behaviour (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)) and sedentary behaviour on a day which includes school-based PA (i.e. PE class or after-school sports class). The participants were 242 children (mean age = 8.7, SD = 1.6) from five primary schools in Hong Kong. Children’s PA levels were measured using an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X) for four school days, and the data were used to derive the duration (min) of MVPA and sedentary behaviour using age-specific criteria. The PA data were grouped according to the school-based PA opportunities, i.e. (a) with a PE lesson (PE day); (b) with an after-school sport class (AFS day); or (c) without school-based PA (N-Act day). The results indicated that the groups differed significantly in daily MVPA [ F (2,108) = 16.62, p < .00] and MVPA during school hours [ F (2,108) = 36.22, p < .00]. There was no significant difference in children’s sedentary behaviour with school-based PA participation. The present study confirmed the contribution of school-based PA opportunities to children’s MVPA in the school day, while sedentary behaviour may not necessarily be reduced.

scholarly journals Evidence-Based Overview of Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity during School Recess: An Updated Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 578
Author(s):  
Sergio Pulido Sánchez ◽  
Damián Iglesias Gallego
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Extraction Process ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
World Health ◽  
After School ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physically Active

Interest in analyzing physically active behaviors during school recesses has grown in recent years as the school environment has consolidated (recess, physical education classes, lunch-time, before and after school) as a crucial space to bring these levels towards those recommended through intervention programs and improvements in the school environment. Unfortunately, in most of these studies, children do not achieve the 60 min a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommended by the World Health Organization. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze the cross-sectional, longitudinal, and intervention studies objectively measured with accelerometers that have emerged in recent years to determine the amount of MVPA of children at recess. This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines. The extraction process for the studies included in this systematic review yielded a total of 43 articles. The studies were classified according to the methodological nature of the research: cross-sectional (n = 34), longitudinal (n = 3) and quasi-experimental (n = 6). The results of the studies confirm that during the recess period younger children are physically more active than older ones and that in general, boys are more physically active than girls. In addition, the data show that the school contributes to more than 40% of the total MVPA. The intervention programs led to an increase in MVPA of up to 5%. Providing schools with equipment and facilities shows that intervention programs are beneficial for raising children’s levels of physical activity.

scholarly journals Predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors for physical activity in boys and girls from socially disadvantaged communities

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-162
Author(s):  
Robert J Noonan ◽  
Lynne M Boddy ◽  
Zoe R Knowles ◽  
Stuart J Fairclough
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Physical Competence ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Child Physical Activity ◽  
Disadvantaged Communities ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
Parental Physical Activity

Objective: This study investigated relative associations between physical activity and selected predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors among 9- to 10-year-old children from socially disadvantaged communities and examined the extent to which these associations varied by sex. Design: Cross-sectional design. Setting: Ten public primary schools in Liverpool, England. Methods: A total of 194 children (107 girls) completed measures of stature, body mass, waist circumference and cardiorespiratory fitness. Physical activity, physical activity self-efficacy, perceived physical competence and parental physical activity support were self-reported. Sex-specific associations were examined by multiple linear regression and mediator analyses using bootstrapping method. Results: Boys’ physical activity was positively associated with parental physical activity support and perceived physical competence ( p < .01), whereas girls’ physical activity was positively associated with parental physical activity support and physical activity self-efficacy ( p < .01). Sex-specific mediation analyses revealed that perceived physical competence and physical activity self-efficacy partially mediated the association between parental physical activity support and boys’ and girls’ physical activity, respectively. Conclusion: As parents influence child physical activity directly and indirectly their involvement in future child physical activity intervention programmes is essential. Formative research with parents living in socially disadvantaged communities is warranted to explore the range and interaction of challenges they face to support different modes of physical activity participation for their children.

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.

scholarly journals Youth Physical Activity Patterns During School and Out-of-School Time

Children ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Saint-Maurice ◽  
Yang Bai ◽  
Spyridoula Vazou ◽  
Gregory Welk
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Discrete Time ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
After School ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
School Students ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Out Of School

This study describes age, sex, and season patterns in children’s physical activity behaviors during discrete time periods, both in school and at home. Participants were 135 elementary, 67 middle, and 89 high-school students (128 boys and 163 girls) involved in a larger school activity monitoring project. We examined time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at recess, physical education (PE), lunch, commuting to/from school, before-school, after-school, evening, and weekend segments. Differences in MVPA by age, sex, and season were examined using a three-way analysis of variance and separately for each individual segment. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels varied by context and were higher during recess (15.4 ± 8.5 min) while at school, and on Saturdays (97.4 ± 89.5 min) when youth were out-of-school. Elementary children were more active than their older counterparts only during lunch time, after-school, and Sunday (p < 0.05). Boys were consistently more active than girls at all segments. Participants were only more active during non-winter than winter months during PE (p = 0.006), after-school (p < 0.001), and Sunday (p = 0.008) segments. These findings showed that activity levels in youth vary during the day and season. The segments reflect discrete time periods that can potentially be targeted and evaluated to promote physical activity in this population.

scholarly journals Children’s segment specific moderate to vigorous physical activity through a school-initiated physical activity program

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-32
Author(s):  
ARTO GRÅSTÉN
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
After School ◽  
Physical Activity Guidelines ◽  
School Activities ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Before School ◽  
Out Of School

Background: Since less than one-third of 13-year-olds in many Western countries meet the physical activity guidelines, there is a major need to promote physical activity. The aim of this study was to examine children’s segment specific moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) through the school-initiated program. Material/Methods: The sample comprised 76 Finnish elementary school children. Accelerometers were used to investigate the patterns of segmented MVPA through 2012-2014. Repeated Measures Analysis was implemented to summarize variability between time and segments of MVPA. Results: The examination of children’s MVPA revealed that their total, weekend, and before-school activity were significant predictors for their subsequent activity. Children’s MVPA in physical education classes, before- and after-school, and during school breaks decreased through the program. Both girls and boys accumulated the majority of their weekly MVPA during weekdays and out-of-school. Conclusions: The program provedto be effective in order to sustain children’s total MVPA levels, although physical education, before- and after-school, and recess MVPA decreased through the program. Out-of-school activities seemed to be more important than in-school activities in relation to children’s total MVPA minutes, when they transfer to the higher grades. Attention should be paid to out-of-school, especially weekend, activities.

scholarly journals Validation of self-reported physical activity by accelerometry among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Mary Vincent Mosha ◽  
Elizabeth Kasagama ◽  
Philip Ayieko ◽  
Jim Todd ◽  
Sia E. Msuya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary School ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Moderate Positive Correlation

Background: Self-reports are commonly used to assess physical activity in children.  Existing self-reports for physical activity have not been validated for use among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. In order to understand if primary school children can accurately report their physical activity, we examined the validity of self-reported physical activity against accelerometer measured physical activity. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July, 2018 among four primary schools in Moshi municipal and Moshi rural districts, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.  A total of 51 primary school children aged 9–11 years were enrolled using a simple random sampling technique. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect physical activity related variables. In addition, children wore accelerometers for seven consecutive days to capture physical activity movements. Spearman’s rank test and Bland Altman plots were used for assessing validity and agreement between self-reports and accelerometer moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Results: The mean age of the study participants was 10 (SD=0.8) years. Majority of the study participants were female 32 (63%). A moderate, positive correlation was found between self-reports and accelerometer MVPA (rho=0.36, p=0.009). Accelerometer had higher MVPA compared to self-reports. Children who reported walking to school had higher MVPA for both accelerometer and self- reports compared to children who use other means of transport to school, e.g. school buses (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study found the moderate positive correlation between self-reports and accelerometers. Self-reports are prone to errors due to recall bias, and this interferes their validity.  More research is needed to develop better self-reported measures with specific activities which can easily be recalled by children. Also, researchers have to be aware of self-reports validity limitation.

Active School Lesson Breaks Increase Daily Vigorous Physical Activity, but Not Daily Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Elementary School Boys

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew N. Wilson ◽  
Timothy Olds ◽  
Kurt Lushington ◽  
Somayeh Parvazian ◽  
James Dollman
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Elementary School ◽  
Elementary School Students ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Classroom Behaviors ◽  
School Students ◽  
Type Method ◽  
Modest Increase ◽  
School Day ◽  
And Control

Purpose:Brief classroom-based episodes of physical activity (active lesson breaks, ALBs) have improved schoolchildren’s classroom behaviors in some studies, and may also increase the likelihood of children meeting the recommended daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). However, there is emerging evidence that increases in physical activity at particular times of the day may lead to compensatory declines at other times. This study explored evidence for compensatory declines in response to a 10 min ALB during the school day.Method:Thirty-eight 12-year-old boys from a single elementary school completed intervention and control conditions in a cross-over design, with each phase lasting one week. The intervention consisted of a single 10-min active lesson break delivered on each of three days in the intervention week. Twenty-four hour accelerometry was used to quantify moderate and vigorous physical activity.Results:ALBs increased in-school MVPA by 5.8 min (p < .0001), but overall daily MVPA was similar between intervention and control conditions (77.2 vs 77.4 min/d, p > .05), However, vigorous physical activity increased significantly over the whole day (11.2 vs 8.9 min, p = .0006).Conclusion:A brief episode of classroom-based play led to a modest increase in vigorous physical activity in elementary school students, but did not increase MVPA across the day.

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