A School-Based Randomized Controlled Trial to Promote Cycling to School in Adolescents: The PACO Study

Abstract

This manuscript describes the rationale and protocol of a school-based randomized controlled trial called “Cycling and Walk to School” (PACO, by its Spanish acronym) that aims to promote cycling to and from school and physical activity (PA) in adolescents. This study will examine the effects of this intervention in cycling and active commuting to and from school (ACS), PA and several ACS-related factors based on self-determination theory (SDT) and a social-ecological model (SEM). A total of 360 adolescents attending six high schools (three experimental and three control) from three Spanish cities will participate in this randomized controlled trial. The intervention (four cycling sessions; 1–2 h per session, one session per week) will be conducted by the research staff; the control group will continue their usual activities. PA levels will be measured by accelerometers, whereas ACS and the other study variables will be self-reported using questionnaires at baseline and post-intervention. The primary outcomes will be: rates of cycling to school, ACS and PA levels. In addition, SDT-related variables and individual, interpersonal, community, and environment variables relevant to ACS will be based on SEM. The findings will provide a comprehensive understanding of the short-term effects of this school-based intervention on cycling to school behaviour, ACS and PA levels in Spanish adolescents.

Correlates of Active Commuting to School among Portuguese Adolescents: An Ecological Model Approach

“…As such, novel approaches are needed. As demonstrated by Chillón, et al [ 49 ], at the school level, we suggest that the curricular physical education and school sport contexts might be relevant contexts for teaching adolescents to learn how to cycle while motivating those adolescents who may have a bicycle but do not use it often in their daily life and for travelling to school.…”

Study Protocol of a School-Based Randomized Controlled Trial to Promote Cycling to School Among Students in Germany Using Intervention Mapping: The ACTS Project

“…In step two of the IM protocol, a theoretical model has to be chosen to create the logic model of change. Therefore, two theoretical models were integrated as already described in a previous study protocol ( 23 ). This integration illustrates why the situational approach influences the behavior of the students and how the behavioral and situational approaches interrelate and interact ( 21 ) (see Figure 3 ): (a) The social–ecological model of the correlates of active transportation shows “the complex interaction of multiple levels of factors [i.e., individual, interpersonal, community, built environment, policy ( 19 )] affecting decisions to be active” ( 21 ) (p. 57).…”

Libro de Actas. I Congreso Internacional EDUFISALUDABLE. "Educación Física y Promocion de Hábitos Saludables"

“…El presente estudio se enmarca en el proyecto PACO (Chillón et al, 2021). Se trata de un proyecto financiado por el Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (DEP2016-75598-R) que tiene como objetivo incrementar el porcentaje de escolares que se desplazan de manera activa en su ruta al colegio.…”

“…Para poder conocer los efectos de la intervención se desarrolló un completo protocolo (Chillón et al, 2021), entre cuyos instrumentos destacan: § Hoja de observación de habilidades ciclistas, que se rellenó al finalizar la sesión 2 y 3 (Salto- Ruiz et al, 2019). § Cuestionarios de satisfacción y utilidad de la intervención, que se rellenó al final de cada una de las sesiones.…”