None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The primary aim of this group randomised control trial is to evaluate the impact of an innovative multi-component intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour (i.e. time spent sitting) on health and psychological well-being in adolescents. The project will address the following research questions: i) What is the impact of the intervention on the primary outcome of recreational screen-time? ii) What is the impact of the intervention on the secondary outcomes of psychological wellbeing, obesity, physical activity and sleep time? iii) What are the factors responsible (i.e., mediators) for sedentary behaviour change? iv) What is the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention among students, parents and teachers? The study will include a range of different strategies including: (a) e-Health delivered intervention messages and an, (b) Information session. The intervention will also include a range of strategies for parents to manage their children’s screen-time: (c) screen-time behavioural contract, and (d) newsletters focusing on household screen-time rules, consequences of excessive screen-time, strategies to manage parent/child conflict arising from screen-time rules and home challenges to reduce screen-time. Recreational screen-time will be the primary outcome of the study. Secondary outcomes include: psychological well-being, physical self-concept, psychological distress, weight, height and physical activity. Social cognitive and environmental mediators of sedentary behaviour change will be also be assessed. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and 6-months.
Interventions
The ‘Switch-off 4 Healthy Minds’ intervention will run for two full school terms, in 2014, and will aim to promote and improve psychological wellbeing in adolescents. The intervention will include a range of evidence-based and innovative strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour in adolescents. The eHealth intervention will include push notifications and text messages promoting a reduction in screen-time. Participants will receive 25 push prompt messages throughout the intervention. Participants
The ‘Switch-off 4 Healthy Minds’ intervention will run for two full school terms, in 2014, and will aim to promote and improve psychological wellbeing in adolescents. The intervention will include a range of evidence-based and innovative strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour in adolescents. The eHealth intervention will include push notifications and text messages promoting a reduction in screen-time. Participants will receive 25 push prompt messages throughout the intervention. Participants will receive these prompts once weekly and will have the opportunity to choose how the messages will be delivered. Delivery methods such as: Facebook, Twitter, Email, Snap Chat and SMS have been chosen due to their popularity in the age group of (i.e.11-12 years). The push-prompt messages (i.e., text messages) will be designed to address the consequences of excessive screen-time and the importance of self-management. The intervention is grounded in self-determination theory and strategies have been designed to influence motivation to limit screen time and potential environmental determinants. An information session will be delivered by a member of research team during school hours. The session will outline the intervention and requirements of the students. Students will be given the opportunity to ask any questions during this session. The intervention will also include a range of strategies for parents to manage their children’s screen-time: (a) screen-time behavioural contract, (b) newsletters focusing on: household screen-time rules, consequences of excessive screen-time, strategies to manage parent/child conflict arising from screen-time rules and home challenges to reduce screen-time. The intervention period will last for 6 months which includes baseline and follow-up assessments. Attendance at workshops will be monitored using class attendance lists. Other strategies used to monitor adherance to the program will be included in the process evaluations conducted at 6-months. Process evaluation questionnaires will determine how many newsletters were read, number of text messages received and satisfaction of the intervention in relation to the different methods of delivery.
Sponsors
University of Newcastle
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
11 Years to 14 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Eight Catholic schools located in the Hunter region will be eligible to participate in the study. All students in year 7 at the study schools will be invited to complete a screen-time eligibility questionnaire. Students who report greater than or equal to 2 hours/day in screen-based recreation will be invited to participate in the study.
Exclusion criteria
Students will be ineligible if they do not complete the consent form.
Outcome results
None listed