Impact of scheduling multiple outdoor free-play periods in childcare on child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a cluster randomised trial
Abstract Background Increasing the frequency of periods of outdoor free-play in childcare may represent an opportunity to increase child physical activity. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of scheduling multiple periods of outdoor free-play in increasing the time children spend in moderate-to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-04-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-018-0665-5 |
| _version_ | 1818989002638753792 |
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| author | Lubna Abdul Razak Sze Lin Yoong John Wiggers Philip J. Morgan Jannah Jones Meghan Finch Rachel Sutherland Christophe Lecathelnais Karen Gillham Tara Clinton-McHarg Luke Wolfenden |
| author_facet | Lubna Abdul Razak Sze Lin Yoong John Wiggers Philip J. Morgan Jannah Jones Meghan Finch Rachel Sutherland Christophe Lecathelnais Karen Gillham Tara Clinton-McHarg Luke Wolfenden |
| author_sort | Lubna Abdul Razak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Increasing the frequency of periods of outdoor free-play in childcare may represent an opportunity to increase child physical activity. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of scheduling multiple periods of outdoor free-play in increasing the time children spend in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) while attending childcare. Methods The study employed a cluster randomised controlled trial design involving children aged 3 to 6 years, attending ten childcare services in the Hunter New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Five services were randomised to receive the intervention and five to a control condition. The intervention involved services scheduling three separate periods of outdoor free-play from 9 am to 3 pm per day, each at least 15 min in duration, with the total equivalent to their usual daily duration of outdoor play period. Control services implemented the usual single continuous period of outdoor free-play over this time. The primary outcome, children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) while in care per day, was measured over 5 days via accelerometers at baseline and at 3 months post baseline. Secondary outcomes included percentage of time spent in MVPA while in care per day, total physical activity while in care per day and documented child injury, a hypothesised potential unintended adverse event. Childcare services and data collectors were not blind to the experimental group allocation. Results Parents of 439 (71.6%) children attending participating childcare services consented for their child to participate in the trial. Of these, 316 (72.0%) children provided valid accelerometer data at both time points. Relative to children in control services, mean daily minutes of MVPA in care was significantly greater at follow-up among children attending intervention services (adjusted difference between groups 5.21 min, 95% CI 0.59–9.83 p = 0.03). Percentage of time spent in MVPA in care per day was also greater at follow-up among children in intervention services relative to control services (adjusted difference between groups 1.57, 95% CI 0.64–2.49 p < 0.001). Total physical activity while in care per day, assessed via counts per minute approached but did not reach significance (adjusted difference between groups 14.25, 95% CI 2.26–30.76 p = 0.09). There were no differences between groups in child injury nor subgroup interactions for the primary trial outcome by child age, sex, or baseline MVPA levels. Conclusion Scheduling multiple periods of outdoor free-play significantly increased the time children spent in MVPA while in attendance at childcare. This simple ecological intervention could be considered for broader dissemination as a strategy to increase child physical activity at a population level. Trial registration This trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) (ACTRN1261000347460). Prospectively registered 17th March 2016. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:31:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3055af18231247b6bb11fbcb1424dc36 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:31:33Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-3055af18231247b6bb11fbcb1424dc362022-12-21T19:28:46ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682018-04-0115111210.1186/s12966-018-0665-5Impact of scheduling multiple outdoor free-play periods in childcare on child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a cluster randomised trialLubna Abdul Razak0Sze Lin Yoong1John Wiggers2Philip J. Morgan3Jannah Jones4Meghan Finch5Rachel Sutherland6Christophe Lecathelnais7Karen Gillham8Tara Clinton-McHarg9Luke Wolfenden10Hunter New England Population HealthHunter New England Population HealthHunter New England Population HealthSchool of Education, Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of NewcastleHunter New England Population HealthHunter New England Population HealthHunter New England Population HealthHunter New England Population HealthHunter New England Population HealthSchool of Psychology, University of NewcastleHunter New England Population HealthAbstract Background Increasing the frequency of periods of outdoor free-play in childcare may represent an opportunity to increase child physical activity. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of scheduling multiple periods of outdoor free-play in increasing the time children spend in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) while attending childcare. Methods The study employed a cluster randomised controlled trial design involving children aged 3 to 6 years, attending ten childcare services in the Hunter New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Five services were randomised to receive the intervention and five to a control condition. The intervention involved services scheduling three separate periods of outdoor free-play from 9 am to 3 pm per day, each at least 15 min in duration, with the total equivalent to their usual daily duration of outdoor play period. Control services implemented the usual single continuous period of outdoor free-play over this time. The primary outcome, children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) while in care per day, was measured over 5 days via accelerometers at baseline and at 3 months post baseline. Secondary outcomes included percentage of time spent in MVPA while in care per day, total physical activity while in care per day and documented child injury, a hypothesised potential unintended adverse event. Childcare services and data collectors were not blind to the experimental group allocation. Results Parents of 439 (71.6%) children attending participating childcare services consented for their child to participate in the trial. Of these, 316 (72.0%) children provided valid accelerometer data at both time points. Relative to children in control services, mean daily minutes of MVPA in care was significantly greater at follow-up among children attending intervention services (adjusted difference between groups 5.21 min, 95% CI 0.59–9.83 p = 0.03). Percentage of time spent in MVPA in care per day was also greater at follow-up among children in intervention services relative to control services (adjusted difference between groups 1.57, 95% CI 0.64–2.49 p < 0.001). Total physical activity while in care per day, assessed via counts per minute approached but did not reach significance (adjusted difference between groups 14.25, 95% CI 2.26–30.76 p = 0.09). There were no differences between groups in child injury nor subgroup interactions for the primary trial outcome by child age, sex, or baseline MVPA levels. Conclusion Scheduling multiple periods of outdoor free-play significantly increased the time children spent in MVPA while in attendance at childcare. This simple ecological intervention could be considered for broader dissemination as a strategy to increase child physical activity at a population level. Trial registration This trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) (ACTRN1261000347460). Prospectively registered 17th March 2016.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-018-0665-5Child day care servicesPreschoolChildcareYoung childrenPhysical activityOutdoor |
| spellingShingle | Lubna Abdul Razak Sze Lin Yoong John Wiggers Philip J. Morgan Jannah Jones Meghan Finch Rachel Sutherland Christophe Lecathelnais Karen Gillham Tara Clinton-McHarg Luke Wolfenden Impact of scheduling multiple outdoor free-play periods in childcare on child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a cluster randomised trial International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Child day care services Preschool Childcare Young children Physical activity Outdoor |
| title | Impact of scheduling multiple outdoor free-play periods in childcare on child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a cluster randomised trial |
| title_full | Impact of scheduling multiple outdoor free-play periods in childcare on child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a cluster randomised trial |
| title_fullStr | Impact of scheduling multiple outdoor free-play periods in childcare on child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a cluster randomised trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of scheduling multiple outdoor free-play periods in childcare on child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a cluster randomised trial |
| title_short | Impact of scheduling multiple outdoor free-play periods in childcare on child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a cluster randomised trial |
| title_sort | impact of scheduling multiple outdoor free play periods in childcare on child moderate to vigorous physical activity a cluster randomised trial |
| topic | Child day care services Preschool Childcare Young children Physical activity Outdoor |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-018-0665-5 |
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