scholarly journals Research Design, Protocol, and Participant Characteristics of COLEAFS: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Childcare Garden Intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13066
Author(s):  
Nilda Graciela Cosco ◽  
Nancy M. Wells ◽  
Muntazar Monsur ◽  
Lora Suzanne Goodell ◽  
Daowen Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Childcare Centers ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity ◽  
Cluster Randomized ◽  
Design Protocol ◽  
To Receive

Childcare garden interventions may be an effective strategy to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and physical activity among young children. The objective of this paper is to describe the research design, protocol, outcome measures, and baseline characteristics of participants in the Childcare Outdoor Learning Environments as Active Food Systems (“COLEAFS”) study, a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining the effect of a garden intervention on outcomes related to diet and physical activity. Fifteen childcare centers in low-income areas were randomly assigned to intervention (to receive garden intervention in Year 1), waitlist control (to receive garden intervention in Year 2), and control group (no intervention). The garden intervention comprised six raised beds planted with warm-season vegetables and fruits, and a garden activity booklet presenting 12 gardening activities. FV knowledge and FV liking were measured using a tablet-enabled protocol. FV consumption was measured by weighing FV before and after a snack session. Physical activity was measured using Actigraph GT3x+ worn by children for three consecutive days while at the childcare center. Of the 543 eligible children from the 15 childcare centers, 250 children aged 3–5 years received parental consent, assented, and participated in baseline data collection. By employing an RCT to examine the effect of a garden intervention on diet and physical activity among young children attending childcare centers within low-income communities, this study offers compelling research design and methods, addresses a critical gap in the empirical literature, and is a step toward evidence-based regulations to promote early childhood healthy habits.

Abstract 070: Community-based, Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Increases Physical Activity In Diverse, Low Income Older Adults Over 2-year Period

Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Crist ◽  
Fatima Tuz Zahra ◽  
Kelsie M Full ◽  
Marta M Jankowska ◽  
Loki Natarajan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Income Status ◽  
Cluster Randomized

Objective: Older adults are the least active population group in the U.S. Low income and ethnically diverse communities have fewer physical activity (PA) related resources and facilities, which contributes to lower PA levels and disparities in cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors and disease outcomes. This study assessed the hypothesis that low income and diverse older adults participating in the multilevel Peer Empowerment Program 4 Physical Activity (PEP4PA) would increase moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), improve blood pressure (BP), perceived quality of life (PQoL), and depressive symptoms to a greater extent than older adults receiving usual senior center programming. Methods: In a cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 12 senior centers, 476 older adults (mean age 71.4 years, 76% female, 60% low income, 38% minority) were assigned to a PA intervention (n=267) or control (n=209) condition. The peer-led intervention included individual self-monitoring and counseling, group walks and social support, and community advocacy to improve walking conditions. Outcomes included minutes of MVPA per day (7-day accelerometer), systolic and diastolic BP (automatic cuff), PQoL (PQoL-20) and depressive symptoms (CES-D 10) at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. To account for multiple measurement days and clustering of participants within senior centers, mixed effects regression models with random effects estimated the intervention effects on all outcomes between groups over time. Models were adjusted for imbalanced baseline covariates. A three-way interaction term assessed whether intervention effects differed by income status. Results: Compared to the control group, intervention participants significantly increased MVPA from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months by 8, 11, 9 and 9 minutes/day respectively (p<0.001), with increases remaining statistically significant across the 2-year period. The intervention group significantly increased mean PQoL scores from 7.2 at baseline to 7.6 (p<0.001), 7.8 (p=0.008) and 7.7 (p<0.001) at 12, 18 and 24 months, compared to control participants. No significant effects were observed for BP or depressive symptoms. Low income participants decreased minutes of MVPA, compared to higher income participants, at 12 and 24 months (β=-7.9, p=0.008 and β=-10.8, p=0.001). Conclusions: The multilevel RCT achieved sustained increases in MVPA and QoL in a diverse cohort of older adults across 2 years of follow up. The peer-led, community-based intervention provides a sustainable model to improve health behaviors related to CVD in an at-risk and often difficult to reach aging population. Further exploration is needed to understand what components of the intervention may be modified to address the differential effects by income status.

Effect of a Fundamental Motor Skills Intervention on Fundamental Motor Skill and Physical Activity in a Preschool Setting: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Alexander Engel ◽  
Carolyn Broderick ◽  
Louise Hardy ◽  
Rachel Ward ◽  
Nancy van Doorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Motor Skill ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Childcare Centers ◽  
Fundamental Motor Skills ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Cluster Randomized

Purpose: To determine the effect of a 12-week fundamental motor skill (FMS) program on FMS and physical activity (PA) on preschool-aged children. Method: A cluster randomized controlled trial. The intervention (PhysicaL ActivitY and Fundamental Motor Skills in Pre-schoolers [PLAYFun] Program) was a 12-week games-based program, delivered directly to the children in childcare centers by exercise physiologists. Children in the control arm received the usual preschool curriculum. Outcomes included FMS competence (Test of Gross Motor Development-2) and PA (accelerometer) assessed at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks (12-wk postintervention). Results: Fifty children (mean age = 4.0 [0.6] y; 54% male) were recruited from 4 childcare centers. Two centers were randomized to PLAYFun and 2 centers were randomized to the waitlist control group. Children attended on average 2.0 (1.0) 40-minute sessions per week. The PLAYFun participants demonstrated significant increases in object control (P < .001) and total FMS (P = .010) competence at week 12, compared with controls in a group × time interaction. Girls, but not boys, in PLAYFun significantly increased moderate to vigorous PA after the intervention (P = .004). These increases were not maintained 12-week postcompletion of PLAYFun. Conclusions: The PLAYFun Program is effective at improving FMS competence in boys and girls and increasing PA in girls. However, improvements are not maintained when opportunities to practice are not sustained.

scholarly journals Implementation Adherence and Perspectives of the Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) Policy: A Process Evaluation

2021 ◽  
pp. 109019812199628
Author(s):  
Monika Szpunar ◽  
Andrew M. Johnson ◽  
Molly Driediger ◽  
Shauna M. Burke ◽  
Jennifer D. Irwin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Policy Document ◽  
Childcare Centers ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Cluster Randomized ◽  
Verbal Prompts

The Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) policy was an evidence-informed, eight-item institutional-level policy document targeting children’s physical activity, outdoor play, and sedentary time. Nine childcare centers in London, Ontario, participated in this cluster, randomized controlled trial. Early Childhood Educators allocated to the experimental group, from five childcare centers in London, Ontario, implemented the policy for young children (18 months to 4 years) for 8 weeks and documented adherence to each policy item (i.e., dose) in daily logs. Program evaluation surveys ( n = 21) and interviews ( n = 10) were completed postintervention to assess Early Childhood Educators’ perspectives of feasibility, context, enjoyment, communication between researchers and childcare staff, and likelihood of future implementation. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and thematic analysis was conducted. Adherence to policy items ranged from 16.5% (for delivery of shorter, more frequent outdoor periods) to 85.9% (for delivery of unstructured/child-directed play). Participants reported effective communication between the research team and childcare centers (0 = not at all effective to 5 = very effective; M = 4.20; SD = 0.83) but noted that they were unlikely to continue the implementation of more frequent outdoor periods (0 = not at all likely to 5 = extremely likely; M = 2.19; SD = 1.21). Interview themes included weather as a prominent barrier and the use of verbal prompts as a solution for implementing the policy. As this was a small and short-term intervention, this pilot study offers important insight on larger scale policy interventions aimed at increasing physical activity and minimizing sedentary time among children enrolled in childcare.

scholarly journals The “Healthy Habits, Healthy Girls” randomized controlled trial for girls: study design, protocol, and baseline results

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1381-1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina Barco Leme ◽  
Sonia Tucunduva Philippi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Healthy Habits ◽  
Design Protocol

The purpose of this article is to describe the study design, protocol, and baseline results of the “Healthy Habits, Healthy Girls” program. The intervention is being evaluated through a randomized controlled trial in 10 public schools in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Data on the following variables were collected and assessed at baseline and will be reevaluated at 7 and 12 months: body mass index, waist circumference, dietary intake, nutrition, physical activity, social cognitive mediators, physical activity level, sedentary behaviors, self-rated physical status, and overall self-esteem. According to the baseline results, 32.4% and 23.4% of girls were overweight in the intervention and control groups, respectively, and in both groups a higher percentage failed to meet daily recommendations for moderate and vigorous physical activity and maximum screen time (TV, computer, mobile devices). There were no significant differences between the groups for most of the variables, except age (p = 0.000) and waist circumference (p = 0.014). The study showed a gap in the Brazilian literature on protocols for randomized controlled trials to prevent obesity among youth. The current study may thus be an important initial contribution to the field.

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