Background A consistent finding in the literature is the decline in physical activity during adolescence, resulting in activity levels below the recommended guidelines. Therefore, promotion of physical activity is recommended specifically for prevocational students. Objective This protocol paper describes the background and design of a physical activity promotion intervention study in which prevocational students are invited to participate in the design and implementation of an intervention mix. The intervention is expected to prevent a decline in physical activity in the target group. Methods The effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated in a two-group cluster randomized controlled trial with assessments at baseline and 2-year follow-up. A simple randomization was applied, allocating 11 schools to the intervention group and 11 schools to the control group, which followed the regular school curriculum. The research population consisted of 3003 prevocational students, aged 13-15 years. The primary outcome measures were self-reported physical activity levels (screen time, active commuting, and physical activity). As a secondary outcome, direct assessment of physical fitness (leg strength, arm strength, hip flexibility, hand speed, abdominal muscle strength, BMI, and body composition) was included. An intervention-control group comparison was presented for the baseline results. The 2-year interventions began by mapping the assets of the prevocational adolescents of each intervention school using motivational interviewing in the structured interview matrix and the photovoice method. In addition, during focus group sessions, students, school employees, and researchers cocreated and implemented an intervention plan that optimally met the students’ assets and opportunities in the school context. The degree of student participation was evaluated through interviews and questionnaires. Results Data collection of the SALVO (stimulating an active lifestyle in prevocational students) study began in October 2015 and was completed in December 2017. Data analyses will be completed in 2021. Baseline comparisons between the intervention and control groups were not significant for age (P=.12), screen time behavior (P=.53), nonschool active commuting (P=.26), total time spent on sports activities (P=.32), total physical activities (P=.11), hip flexibility (P=.22), maximum handgrip (P=.47), BMI (P=.44), and sum of skinfolds (P=.29). Significant differences between the intervention and control groups were found in ethnicity, gender, active commuting to school (P=.03), standing broad jump (P=.02), bent arm hang (P=.01), 10× 5-m sprint (P=.01), plate tapping (P=.01), sit-ups (P=.01), and 20-m shuttle run (P=.01). Conclusions The SALVO study assesses the effects of a participatory intervention on physical activity and fitness levels in prevocational students. The results of this study may lead to a new understanding of the effectiveness of school-based physical activity interventions when students are invited to participate and cocreate an intervention. This process would provide structured health promotion for future public health. Trial Registration ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN35992636; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN35992636 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/28273
Background Adolescents tend to be less physically active and thus become more vulnerable to health risks. Engaging adolescents becoming agents of their active lifestyle could potentially catalyze the impact of interventions. Therefore, the effects of an asset-based physical activity promotion intervention on the physical activity behavior and physical fitness of pre-vocational students was evaluated, taking into account the extent to which the students were involved in the design and implementation of the interventions. Methods This randomized controlled trial included 2286 prevocational students divided between an intervention and control group. Innovative triple-i interactive research methods were used to develop and implement tailor-made interventions in co-creation with students and teachers. Self- reported physical activity behavior and direct assessments of physical fitness levels were determined on baseline and two annual follow-ups. Student involvement was determined by validated questionnaires. Generalized estimating equations were performed to determine intervention effects over time. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of the extent of student involvement. Results No intervention effects were found for total physical activity level, screen time, active transport and sports activities (CI includes zero; p > 0.05). Positive effects of the intervention were found for the long jump (β = 3.44; CI = 1.29:5.58; p = 0.01), the handgrip strength (β = 0.55; CI = 0.02:1,08; p = 0.04), the shuttle run test (β = 0.28; CI = 0.02:0.54; p = 0.03) and the sum of skinfolds (β=-0.08; CI=-0.11:-0.06; p = 0.01). Subgroup analyses on the extent of student involvement showed mixed results. Students at intervention schools where students involvement was more successful showed no alterations in physical activity levels and higher scores on shuttle run scores (β = 0.58;CI=0.29:0.87; p = 0.00) compared to controls. Students at intervention schools that were less involved, showed higher scores on long jump (β = 7.77; CI = 4.78:10.76; p = 0.00), grip strength (β = 1.34; CI = 0.61:2.06; p = 0.00), and sum of skinfolds (β=-0.15; CI=-0.19:-0.10; p = 0.00). Conclusions The participatory physical activity intervention in this study does not change physical activity level but does improve some elements of physical fitness. The research methods used in this study offers a protocol to align intervention plans to the students' assets by co-creation which is feasible to use in the school context.
BACKGROUND A consistent finding in the literature is the decline in physical activity during adolescence, resulting in activity levels below the recommended guidelines. Therefore, promotion of physical activity is recommended specifically for prevocational students. OBJECTIVE This protocol paper describes the background and design of a physical activity promotion intervention study in which prevocational students are invited to participate in the design and implementation of an intervention mix. The intervention is expected to prevent a decline in physical activity in the target group. METHODS The effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated in a two-group cluster randomized controlled trial with assessments at baseline and 2-year follow-up. A simple randomization was applied, allocating 11 schools to the intervention group and 11 schools to the control group, which followed the regular school curriculum. The research population consisted of 3003 prevocational students, aged 13-15 years. The primary outcome measures were self-reported physical activity levels (screen time, active commuting, and physical activity). As a secondary outcome, direct assessment of physical fitness (leg strength, arm strength, hip flexibility, hand speed, abdominal muscle strength, BMI, and body composition) was included. An intervention-control group comparison was presented for the baseline results. The 2-year interventions began by mapping the assets of the prevocational adolescents of each intervention school using motivational interviewing in the structured interview matrix and the photovoice method. In addition, during focus group sessions, students, school employees, and researchers cocreated and implemented an intervention plan that optimally met the students’ assets and opportunities in the school context. The degree of student participation was evaluated through interviews and questionnaires. RESULTS Data collection of the SALVO (stimulating an active lifestyle in prevocational students) study began in October 2015 and was completed in December 2017. Data analyses will be completed in 2021. Baseline comparisons between the intervention and control groups were not significant for age (<i>P</i>=.12), screen time behavior (<i>P</i>=.53), nonschool active commuting (<i>P</i>=.26), total time spent on sports activities (<i>P</i>=.32), total physical activities (<i>P</i>=.11), hip flexibility (<i>P</i>=.22), maximum handgrip (<i>P</i>=.47), BMI (<i>P</i>=.44), and sum of skinfolds (<i>P</i>=.29). Significant differences between the intervention and control groups were found in ethnicity, gender, active commuting to school (<i>P</i>=.03), standing broad jump (<i>P</i>=.02), bent arm hang (<i>P</i>=.01), 10× 5-m sprint (<i>P</i>=.01), plate tapping (<i>P</i>=.01), sit-ups (<i>P</i>=.01), and 20-m shuttle run (<i>P</i>=.01). CONCLUSIONS The SALVO study assesses the effects of a participatory intervention on physical activity and fitness levels in prevocational students. The results of this study may lead to a new understanding of the effectiveness of school-based physical activity interventions when students are invited to participate and cocreate an intervention. This process would provide structured health promotion for future public health. CLINICALTRIAL ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN35992636; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN35992636 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/28273
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