Active Classrooms: A classroom-based intervention to improve the physical activity levels of primary school children.
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN14265493 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14265493 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 10/01/2015
- Registration date
- 19/01/2015
- Last edited
- 17/07/2020
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health recommends that children should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (PA) every day. Recent evidence, however, shows that is often not the case. In 2010, WHO identified PA treatments as a key way of increasing the PA levels of children. School has been recognised as a primary place to reach the majority of children and provide PA opportunities for them. However, the inactive nature of lessons carried out in the classroom has been identified as adding to physical inactivity among this age group. The Active Classrooms study aims to design and test a classroom-based treatment that combines physical activity (PA) and school curriculum content. The effects of the treatment on the PA levels of primary school children will be evaluated.
Who can participate?
Children aged 8-11 years in participating primary schools in Munster, Ireland and their teachers.
What does the study involve?
Participating schools are allocated to one of two groups. Teachers in schools in group 1 (intervention group) are provided with training, lesson plans and resources to encourage them to integrate physical activities into English and Maths lessons ('Active Classrooms' lessons). They teach at least one active English lesson and one active Maths lesson each day. Teachers in schools in group 2 (delayed-treatment control group) continue their usual school curriculum. Children's weight, height and degree of physical activity are measured at the beginning of the study. Physical activity measures are repeated after 8 weeks of participating in treatment lessons and 4 months after the beginning of the study. The children's enjoyment of the lessons are also assessed. Teachers opinions on the programme are evaluated using a questionnaire. After all data is collected for the study, teachers in group 2 are offered the 'Active Classrooms' lessons and resources.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits include improved physical activity levels which may be beneficial to the overall health of the participants. There are no risks to participating.
Where is the study run from?
Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and schools in Munster (Ireland)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2013 to June 2015
Who is funding the study?
investigator initiated and funded (Ireland)
Who is the main contact?
Rosemarie Martin
rgiltenane@gmail.com
Contact information
Public
86 Woodhaven, Castletroy
Limerick
00353
Ireland
Study information
| Study design | This is an interventional multicentre randomised controlled trial. |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | School |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Scientific title | Active Classrooms: An intervention to improve the physical activity levels of primary school children in Ireland, with a primary outcome of minutes in moderate to vigorous physical activity, objectively assessed using accelerometer data and a randomised controlled trial. |
| Study hypothesis | It is hypothesised that improvements in moderate to vigorous physical activity levels will be found in children in intervention classrooms, compared to those in control classrooms. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Mary Immaculate College Research Ethics Committee, 20/09/2014, ref: A14-006 |
| Condition | Intervention to improve physical activity levels of children in primary schools in Munster, Ireland. |
| Intervention | Schools are randomised into two groups: 1. Intervention group: Participating teachers in intervention schools will receive training and resources to implement 'Active Classrooms' physically active lessons which integrate academic content. 2. Delayed-treatment control group: Teachers in delayed-treatment control schools will not receive any training or resources and will continue teaching their usual school curriculum until all data has been collected. After data collection teachers in control schools will be offered the 'Active Classrooms' lessons and resources. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | The primary outcome is change in minutes of MVPA measured using a week of accelerometry (Actigraph) at baseline, post-intervention (week 8) and at 4 months follow-up. |
| Secondary outcome measures | Secondary outcomes are: 1. Teacher satisfaction with the programme and its implementation measured using questionnaire data post-intervention (week 8) 2. Student enjoyment of the programme evaluated using a draw and write technique and focus group discussions post-intervention (week 8) |
| Overall study start date | 01/09/2013 |
| Overall study end date | 30/06/2015 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 8 Years |
| Upper age limit | 11 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 230 (10 classrooms with approx. 23 children in each) |
| Total final enrolment | 248 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | All children aged 8-11 years, in participating schools who provide written informed assent and parental/guardian consent |
| Participant exclusion criteria | On ethical grounds, there will be no exclusion criteria for participants but potential confounders will be assessed when undertaking measurements, in direct consultation with class teachers/principals. |
| Recruitment start date | 22/09/2014 |
| Recruitment end date | 21/11/2014 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Ireland
Study participating centre
Limerick
00353
Ireland
Sponsor information
University/education
South Circular Road
Limerick
00353
Ireland
| Website | http://www.mic.ul.ie/Pages/default.aspx |
|---|---|
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/00a0n9e72 |
Funders
Funder type
Not defined
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | protocol | 01/03/2015 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | results | 01/04/2017 | 17/07/2020 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
17/07/2020: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
