None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Current school-based obesity prevention initiatives are often reliant on the expertise and enthusiasm of individuals. Given intensive curriculum demands, improving the number/quality of play facilities in schools may offer an innovative, cost-effective, long-term solution for increasing physical activity and improving body weight in children that may be more effective at reducing health inequalities. Sixteen low-mid decile schools in Waitakere and Dunedin cities will be randomised to control or intervention. Researchers will work with intervention schools to decide what changes to play facilities and attitudes to physical activity are required and assist in facilitating them. Anthropometry, physical activity (accelerometry), bullying and diet will be measured in 50 Year 2 (6-7 years) and Year 4 (8-9 years) children from each of the 16 schools at baseline, 12 months and 24 months. The wider school environment (policies, procedures) as it pertains to physical activity will also be evaluated.
Interventions
Sixteen low-mid decile primary schools with minimum rolls of 150 in Dunedin (n=8) and Waitakere (n=8) cities will be randomly assigned to control and intervention conditions. The study processes in both study centres will closely mirror each other.
After an initial baseline assessment of all playgrounds carried out by a certified playworker, a series of meetings will be held with each intervention school (parents, Board of Trustees, teachers, and pupils) to decide what changes to play facilitie
Sixteen low-mid decile primary schools with minimum rolls of 150 in Dunedin (n=8) and Waitakere (n=8) cities will be randomly assigned to control and intervention conditions. The study processes in both study centres will closely mirror each other. After an initial baseline assessment of all playgrounds carried out by a certified playworker, a series of meetings will be held with each intervention school (parents, Board of Trustees, teachers, and pupils) to decide what changes to play facilities and the play environment would be advantageous. Cost, potential popularity, existing structures, age restrictions, safety and space requirements, and availability will be taken into consideration. Once each school has decided what playground redevelopment they would like to have, the research team will assist the school wherever possible with obtaining additional funds. The development of the playground action plans and installation of new equipment/rules will take at least 12 months. Anthropometry, physical activity (accelerometry), bullying and diet will be measured in 50 Year 2 (6-7 years) and Year 4 (8-9 years) children from each of the 16 schools at baseline, and at 12 months and 24 months. The wider school environment (policies, procedures) as it pertains to physical activity will also be evaluated at each time point.
Sponsors
University of Otago
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
6 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Selection of schools: Primary schools are the sampling unit and must be decile 1-6 (i.e. low-mid SES) based on 2008 New Zealand Ministry of Education decile ratings with a minimum roll of 150 in Dunedin (n=8) and Waitakere (n=8). A school will need to agree to participate before being randomly assigned to control or intervention conditions. Selection of children: Each school will be asked to choose two Year 2 and two Year 4 classes. All of the children in these two classes will be invited to participate in the measurements (to obtain approximately 50 children per school). Consenting children will be measured at all 3 timepoints over the 24 month period.
Exclusion criteria
Unable to participate in physical activity. Not planning to be resident in the Dunedin or Auckland area for the next two years.
Outcome results
None listed