The planned study will provide basic insights regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of school-based health promotion measures to increase children’s and teachers’ health and health-related behaviours. Other
Conditions
Interventions
Children:
1. Regular physical activity opportunities, including incorporation of one 40 minute physical education lesson per week and one 40 minute moving-to-music lesson per week into the main school
Sponsors
Novartis Foundation
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Children: 1. Grade 1-6 2. Aged 6-14 years 3. Written informed consent by parent/guardian 4. Not participating in other clinical trials 5. Not suffering from medical conditions that prevent participation in physical activity Teachers: 1. Involved in implementation of the school-based health promotion programme 2. Tick all questions with "yes" in the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire to be able to take part in the cardiorespiratory fitness test
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Children: 1. Suffering severe malnourishment (as diagnosed by a study nurse following national guidelines. In this case, children will be referred to local clinics) Teachers: 1. Acute or chronic medical conditions that prevent participation in a submaximal fitness test (if uncertain, participant will be asked to consult a general practitioner and provide a doctor's certification before he/she is included in the study) 2. Temporary illness such as a cold or fever (to participate in cardiorespiratory fitness test) 3. Minimum 50% employment rate for at least 6 months
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Children: The following will be measured/assessed at the baseline and after 12 months: 1. Physical activity: 1.1. Self-reported physical activity assessed by Health-Behaviour of School-Aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire 1.2. 7 day physical activity measured by actigraphy 2. Physical fitness: 2.1. Cardiorespiratory fitness measured using VO2 max estimates from 20 m shuttle run (Children run back and forth on 20 m course following the pace of sound signals, starting with a running speed of 8.5 km/h. The frequency of signal increases every minute by 0.5 km/h. When a child fails to follow the pace in two consecutive intervals, the stage and distance completed fully will be record. The age of the child and the speed at which the child stopped running is converted into VO2 max estimates 2.2. Grip strength measured by grip strength test with Saehan hydraulic hand dynamometer Teachers: Subjectively perceived health is assessed at the baseline and after 6 months: 1. General perceived stress assessed using the German version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS4) 2. Work-related stress assessed using the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) model 3. Mental health (mental distress or minor psychiatric morbidities) assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Children: The following will be measured/assessed at the baseline and after 12 months: 1. Disease history of children and parents assessed by face-to-face interview by a professional nurse based on a self-developed questionnaire 2. Subjective health complaints (15 items) assessed by Health-Behaviour of School-Aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire 3. The following are measured using a finger prick test to generate a blood sample for analysis (performed following standardisation protocol of WHO (2010): 3.1. Haemoglobin concentration (Hb) 3.2. Blood lipids (TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG) 3.3. Blood glucose (HbA1c) 4. Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) measured three times after the child has been seated for 5 minutes using a validated oscillometric Omron® digital blood pressure monitor 5. Body composition (percentage body fat and thickness of skinfolds) measured by anthropometry 6. Waist-to-hip ratio measured by anthropometry 7. Body mass index measured by anthropometry 8. Soil-transmitted helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura) assessed using Kato-Katz method 9. Execute function assessed using Flanker test 10. School grades, obtained directly from the school/teachers 11. Health-related quality of life assessed using KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire 12. School satisfaction assessed using one item from Health-Behaviour of School-Aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire 13. Academic self-concept assessed using one item from Health-Behaviour of School-Aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire The following control variables will be measured/assessed using a self-developed questionnaire at the baseline and after 12 months: 14. Age 15. Sex 16. Socioeconomic status 17. Ethical background 18. Home language 19. School 20. Grades Teachers: The following will be measured at the baseline and after 6 months: 1. Disease history assessed by face-to-face interview by a professional nurse based on a self-developed questionnaire 2. The following are measured using a finger prick test | — |
Countries
South Africa
Outcome results
None listed