Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are the foundational building blocks for lifetime participation in physical activity (PA). Programs to promote FMS development have been primarily delivered in childcare and school-based settings. But no studies have evaluated the effectiveness of an interactive digital application, designed to be co-used by the parent and child, to increase FMS proficiency in preschool-aged children.
This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a digital application called Moovosity to promote FMS in 3- to 6-year-old children.
Who can participate?
Children aged 3 to 6 years and their parents/caregivers living in the greater Brisbane metropolitan region
What does the study involve?
Half of the families will be randomly assigned to have free use of the Moovosity app for the 8-week program and half will be randomly assigned to the waiting list for access to the app. Participants will complete assessments of FMS proficiency, physical activity, and parental support for physical activity before and after the 8 week period. After these assessments, the wait-listed group will be given free access to the app.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The outcomes of this research project may benefit families with preschool-aged children. The results will tell us if the app is effective in increasing FMS proficiency in 3 to 6-year olds and enhancing parental support for physical activity. If we can confirm that the digital platform provides children with fun, developmentally-appropriate physical activity and significantly improves FMS proficiency, families with young children will be able to access a new evidence-based app to promote active play and regular physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Participants may experience a mild discomfort and/or anxiety from being assessed on FMS proficiency. There is a minimal risk that participants may fall or receive a minor injury during any games chosen to play while using the app. However, the likelihood of these occurring is very low, and the level of discomfort/anxiety associated with these risks is low. The risk of injury using the game-based app session is no greater than the risk of playing outside in the backyard or playing while attending preschool or other childcare.
Where is the study run from?
Queensland University of Technology (Australia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
From June 2018 to May 2019
Who is funding the study?
The study is investigator-initiated and funded
Who is the main contact?
Prof Stewart Trost
s.trost@qut.edu.au
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Stewart Trost
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9587-3944
Contact details
62 Graham Street
South Brisbane
4101
Australia
+61 401368975
s.trost@qut.edu.au
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
Nil known
Study information
Scientific title
Effectiveness of a novel digital application for the development of fundamental movement skills in 3- to 6-year-old children: A randomised controlled trial
Acronym
Moovosity
Study hypothesis
Families randomised to the 8-week intervention will demonstrate significantly greater changes in fundamental movement skills, child physical activity, and parental support for physical activity than families allocated to the wait list control condition.
Ethics approval
Approved 17/08/2018, the Queensland University of Technology Human Research Ethics Committee (Research Ethics Advisory Team, Office of Research Ethics & Integrity on behalf of the Chairperson, UHREC Level 4, 88 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; +61 7 3138 5123; humanethics@qut.edu.au), ref: 1800000675
Study design
Randomized, wait-list controlled study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Home
Trial type
Prevention
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Condition
Physical inactivity
Intervention
Participants will be randomized to either the treatment group or the wait-listed control group. The treatment group receives immediate access to the Moovosity app over 8-weeks. The wait-listed control group receives access to the app after completing post-test assessments.
Participants will undergo baseline testing prior to allocation which will be repeated after 8 weeks of either access to the Moovosity app, or no access in the wait-list.
A permutated block randomization method was used for allocation, with four parent-child dyads in each block. The allocation sequence has been generated by a researcher who was not involved in participant recruitment or outcome assessments. The allocation sequence will be concealed in a set of sealed opaque envelopes labeled with the participant number. Data collection and Fundamental movement skill (FMS) assessments will be conducted by trained research assistants blinded to group allocation.
Moovosity™ is a mobile application (app) designed to promote the development of FMS and increase physical activity in young children. The app is designed as a digital library of age-appropriate active games that promote child and parent co-participation in physical activity. Games are designed to be fun, engaging, and establish a positive relationship with physical activity.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Fundamental movement skill proficiency, and object control and locomotor skills will be measured using the Test of Gross Motor Development 2nd Edition at baseline and 8 weeks
Secondary outcome measures
1. Child physical activity will be measured using the Burdette Outdoor Play Checklist at baseline and 8 weeks
2. Parental support for physical activity will be measured using the parent support scale (by Trost et al 2003) at baseline and 8 weeks
Overall trial start date
15/06/2018
Overall trial end date
15/05/2019
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged 3 to 6 years
2. Free from any chronic conditions that affect their growth and development
3. Able to participant in activities of daily living
4. Resident in the greater Brisbane metropolitan region
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
34
Total final enrolment
34
Participant exclusion criteria
Does not meet the inclusion criteria
Recruitment start date
15/10/2018
Recruitment end date
15/01/2019
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Australia
Trial participating centre
Queensland Centre for Children’s Health Research
62 Graham Street
South Brisbane
4101
Australia
Sponsor information
Organisation
Queensland University of Technology
Sponsor details
2 George Street
Brisbane
4001
Australia
+61 730697301
s.trost@qut.edu.au
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Organisation
Moovosity Pty Ltd
Sponsor details
L10
15 Green Square Close
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane
4006
Australia
-
scott@moovosity.com
Sponsor type
Industry
Website
Funders
Funder type
Other
Funder name
Investigator initiated and funded
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
We intend to publish the impact of the intervention on object control skills, locomotor skills, child physical activity, and parental support for physical activity. We will do so in a peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement:
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Professor Stewart Trost (s.trost@qut.edu.au). Interested parties will be asked to state why they are interested in the dataset, their proposed research question, and proposed analytical strategies. Due to the conditions stipulated in the research agreement between Moovosity Pty Ltd and Queensland University of Technology, any request for the dataset must also be approved by Moovosity Pty Ltd. Approved parties will be emailed a password protected csv file comprising a completely de-identified dataset and data dictionary.
Intention to publish date
15/06/2020
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
See additional files (ISRCTN12852968_BasicResults_06May20.pdf)
Publication list
Publication citations
Additional files
- ISRCTN12852968_BasicResults_06May20.pdf uploaded 15/05/2020