Healthy for Life Pilot Study: A Multicomponent School and Home Based Physical Activity Intervention for Disadvantaged Children

Abstract

The study aimed to develop and evaluate a multicomponent school and home based physical activity (PA) intervention in children in grades 3–7 (aged 8–13 years) and determine the psychological variables that influence PA; 10 × 1 h school-based training sessions, a home-based activity program and 4 × 1 h lifestyle workshops for parents. PA was assessed at an intervention and nearby control school using accelerometers and self-report at 3-time points: baseline, post intervention and 10-week follow-up. Self-efficacy, self-management strategies, enjoyment, perceived barriers to PA, outcome-expectancy and social support were evaluated. The study showed 73% of the children with complete data sets at the intervention school (n = 27) did not increase device measured moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) in the after-school period (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) or over the whole day or during school break time immediately following the intervention or at follow-up, as compared to 70% of children with complete data sets at the control school (n = 35; p > 0.05 for all). Overall, 59% of boys attained more than double the recommended 120 min of MVPA each day compared to 42% of girls (p = 0.013). At the baseline, children’s self-reported PA in the intervention school positively correlated with: outcome expectancy (R = 0.240, p = 0.015), enjoyment (R = 0.339, p < 0.001), self-efficacy (R = 0.399, p < 0.001), self-management (R = 0.617, p < 0.001), social support at home (R = 0.406, p < 0.001), and social support at school (R = 0.407, p < 0.001). Similar relationships were observed after the intervention and at follow-up. Focus groups with the children, parents and interviews with teachers identified areas for improvement of the intervention. In conclusion, while the multifaceted approach to improve PA was ineffective over the time span of the study, important predictors of PA in this sample of disadvantaged children were identified.

School-Based Family-Oriented Health Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

“…Of the 22 studies included in the review, one was classified as having strong methodological quality, 21 eleven with moderate methodological quality, 22 - 32 and ten with poor quality. 33 - 42 In terms of parameters evaluated, in the selection of bias, only 4 studies were evaluated as good, 21 , 25 , 28 , 32 because they are considered representative of the target population with a participation rate of over 80%. Study designs were classified as strong when RCTS or Controlled Clinical Trials (n=12) 21 - 26 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 38 , 39 and fair when they were Cohort analytic, case-control, cohort, or an interrupted time series (n=10).…”

“…Study designs were classified as strong when RCTS or Controlled Clinical Trials (n=12) 21 - 26 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 38 , 39 and fair when they were Cohort analytic, case-control, cohort, or an interrupted time series (n=10). 27 , 30 , 31 , 34 - 37 , 40 - 42 Regarding confounders parameter, 9 studies reported no baseline differences between groups 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 30 - 32 , 37 , 39 and 8 studies accounted for at least 80% with significant confounders. 21 , 24 , 27 - 29 , 33 , 36 , 38 Cohorts and other types of interventions performed with only 1 group were not considered.…”

“… 27 , 30 , 31 , 34 - 37 , 40 - 42 Regarding confounders parameter, 9 studies reported no baseline differences between groups 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 30 - 32 , 37 , 39 and 8 studies accounted for at least 80% with significant confounders. 21 , 24 , 27 - 29 , 33 , 36 , 38 Cohorts and other types of interventions performed with only 1 group were not considered. 34 , 35 , 40 - 42 Concerning the blinding part, studies were assessed as good when they blinded assessor and participants, 21 and fair when they blinded 1 of the 2 criteria.…”

“…Lastly, in terms of withdrawals and dropouts, studies were classified as good when the follow-up rate was higher than 80%, 23 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 42 fair when the follow-up rate was between 60-79%, 21 , 22 , 24 , 26 , 29 , 32 , 41 and poor when the follow-up rate was <60% or withdrawals and dropouts were not described. 33 - 40 …”

Active children through individual vouchers – evaluation (ACTIVE): A mixed method randomised control trial to improve the cardiovascular fitness and health of teenagers

“…Secondly, improvements in fitness and MVPA in interventions may be limited by using the primary aim of improving MVPA (121,126,127,129,134). Holding MVPA as the gold standard of activity may be limiting how activity is promoted to teenagers.…”