scholarly journals A School-Based Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Nutrition Behavior Change Communication Interventions in Improving Nutritional Status and Academic Performance of Schoolchildren in South Ethiopia: Study Protocol

2018 ◽  
Vol 08 (04) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsedeke Wolde ◽  
Tefera Belachew
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elin Kolle ◽  
Runar Barstad Solberg ◽  
May Grydeland ◽  
Reidar Säfvenbom ◽  
Sigmund Alfred Anderssen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Participation in regular physical activity (PA) is important for both physical and mental health, and positive associations have also been reported between PA and academic performance. However, PA levels decline markedly during adolescence. School in motion (ScIM) is a school-based PA intervention carried out over one school year, in a sample of 14-year-old girls and boys. The primary aim was to investigate whether two extra hours of PA weekly lead to increases in the adolescents’ accelerometer assessed PA levels. Secondary aims were to investigate the intervention effects on time spent in PA of different intensities, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, mental health, academic performance and learning environment. ffigMethods & design: This is a multicenter, school-based, three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) recruiting ninth graders from lower secondary schools in Norway. A total of 2084 14-year-olds from 29 schools were included, yielding a participation rate of 76 %. Schools (clusters) were randomly assigned to one of three study arms: (1) the physical active learning (PAL) intervention arm, (2) the don't worry-be happy (DWBH) intervention arm, or (3) current practice (control arm). All schools participating in ScIM had two or three mandatory PE-lessons per week. Schools in the two intervention arms added two hours of PA and PE to the class schedule each week. PA was assessed by accelerometers at baseline, midpoint and at the end of the intervention. All other variables were tested at baseline and at the end of the intervention. The measures included cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, mental health (general mental health, quality of life and self-perception) academic performance (standardized national tests in reading and numeracy) and learning environment. Qualitative interviews were performed with students, teachers and school management to obtain an in-depth understanding of pedagogical processes taking place during the intervention.Discussion: This study will inform what effect two added hours of PA during the school week can have on adolescents’ PA levels, their health, academic performance and learning environment. Further, the study will add valuable information if the two PA interventions will generate different effects on important factors for learning and health.Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov ID nr: NCT03817047. Registered 01/25/2019 ‘retrospectively registered’


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Covadonga M. Díaz-Caneja ◽  
Javier Martín-Babarro ◽  
Renzo Abregú-Crespo ◽  
Miguel Á. Huete-Diego ◽  
Marta Giménez-Dasí ◽  
...  

Introduction: Bullying is a major preventable risk factor for mental disorders. Available evidence suggests school-based interventions reduce bullying prevalence rates. This study aims to test the efficacy of a web-enabled, school-based, multicomponent anti-bullying intervention to prevent school bullying and to assess its effects on mental health and quality of life.Methods and analysis: Cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in 20 publicly funded primary and secondary schools in Madrid, Spain. Schools are randomly allocated to either the intervention arm (n = 10) or conventional practices arm (n = 10). The web-enabled intervention (LINKlusive) lasts ~12 weeks and consists of three main components: (i) an online training program for teachers and parents, (ii) a web-guided educational program for students, focusing on promoting respect for diversity, empathy, and social skill development, and (iii) a web-guided, teacher-delivered, targeted intervention program for bullying situations identified based on peer-support strategies and individual intervention for those involved (i.e., bullying victims and perpetrators). The primary objective is to compare differences between peer-reported bullying victimization in the intervention and control arms at the end of the intervention. Secondary outcome measures are additional measures of bullying victimization and perpetration, mental health symptoms, self-esteem, and quality of life. A follow-up assessment is conducted 1 year after the end of the intervention. Treatment effects will be tested using multilevel mixed models, adjusting for school-, classroom-, and student-related covariates. Considering the increased bullying rates in children with special educational needs, a specific subgroup analysis will test the efficacy of the intervention on bullying prevalence, mental health, and quality of life in this particularly vulnerable population.Ethics and Dissemination: The Deontology Commission of the School of Psychology, Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain reviewed the study protocol and granted ethical approval on 21st January 2019. The results of the trial will be disseminated in relevant peer-reviewed journals and at conferences in the field.Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN15719015.


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