Process evaluation of a pilot multi-component physical activity intervention – active schools: Skelmersdale
Abstract Background Schools have been identified as key environments to promote child physical activity (PA). Implementation of multi-component PA interventions within schools is advocated but research has showed that they may not always be effective at increasing child PA. Results of the Active Sch...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6272-1 |
| _version_ | 1828483929572638720 |
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| author | Sarah L. Taylor Robert J. Noonan Zoe R. Knowles Michael B. Owen Stuart J. Fairclough |
| author_facet | Sarah L. Taylor Robert J. Noonan Zoe R. Knowles Michael B. Owen Stuart J. Fairclough |
| author_sort | Sarah L. Taylor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Schools have been identified as key environments to promote child physical activity (PA). Implementation of multi-component PA interventions within schools is advocated but research has showed that they may not always be effective at increasing child PA. Results of the Active Schools: Skelmersdale (AS:Sk) multi-component pilot intervention indicated no significant positive change to child PA levels. Process evaluations can provide information on which aspects of an intervention were delivered and how. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use a combination of methods to elicit child and teacher perceptions regarding the feasibility and acceptability of the AS:Sk intervention, alongside systematic researcher observations. The overarching study aim was to understand how schools implemented the AS:Sk intervention, with a specific focus on the frequency of intervention component implementation, and how the components were incorporated into the school day. Methods The study generated five data sets. Data elicited from 18 participating children via a write draw, show and tell task included, frequency counts of most enjoyable intervention components, drawings, and verbatim data. Teacher verbatim data was collected from 3 interviews, and 18 researcher observations were recorded using field notes. The data sources were pooled to produce the themes presented in the results section. Results The combination of data sources revealed four themes and 16 sub-themes. Implementation methods: how and when the components were implemented in schools. Child engagement: enjoyment and positive behaviour. Facilitators: peer influence, teacher influence, staggered implementation, incentives, rewards, challenges and competition, flexibility and adaptability, child ownership, routine. Barriers: time within an intense curriculum, space, sustaining child interest, parental support, school policies. Conclusions This study revealed that teachers believed classroom based activities were most feasible and acceptable due to the reduced implementation barriers of sufficient time and space. In contrast, children reported that the activities outside of the classroom were preferred. Future school-based PA interventions should aim to achieve a balance between routine PA at a set time and PA that is flexible and adaptable. Further process evaluations of multi-component school-based PA interventions are warranted to develop the limited evidence base. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T08:47:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b809b7a6e98420282f5664861f779aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T08:47:01Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b809b7a6e98420282f5664861f779aa2022-12-22T01:14:07ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582018-12-0118111610.1186/s12889-018-6272-1Process evaluation of a pilot multi-component physical activity intervention – active schools: SkelmersdaleSarah L. Taylor0Robert J. Noonan1Zoe R. Knowles2Michael B. Owen3Stuart J. Fairclough4Physical Activity and Health Research Group, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill UniversityPhysical Activity and Health Research Group, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill UniversityPhysical Activity Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores UniversityPhysical Activity and Health Research Group, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill UniversityPhysical Activity and Health Research Group, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill UniversityAbstract Background Schools have been identified as key environments to promote child physical activity (PA). Implementation of multi-component PA interventions within schools is advocated but research has showed that they may not always be effective at increasing child PA. Results of the Active Schools: Skelmersdale (AS:Sk) multi-component pilot intervention indicated no significant positive change to child PA levels. Process evaluations can provide information on which aspects of an intervention were delivered and how. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use a combination of methods to elicit child and teacher perceptions regarding the feasibility and acceptability of the AS:Sk intervention, alongside systematic researcher observations. The overarching study aim was to understand how schools implemented the AS:Sk intervention, with a specific focus on the frequency of intervention component implementation, and how the components were incorporated into the school day. Methods The study generated five data sets. Data elicited from 18 participating children via a write draw, show and tell task included, frequency counts of most enjoyable intervention components, drawings, and verbatim data. Teacher verbatim data was collected from 3 interviews, and 18 researcher observations were recorded using field notes. The data sources were pooled to produce the themes presented in the results section. Results The combination of data sources revealed four themes and 16 sub-themes. Implementation methods: how and when the components were implemented in schools. Child engagement: enjoyment and positive behaviour. Facilitators: peer influence, teacher influence, staggered implementation, incentives, rewards, challenges and competition, flexibility and adaptability, child ownership, routine. Barriers: time within an intense curriculum, space, sustaining child interest, parental support, school policies. Conclusions This study revealed that teachers believed classroom based activities were most feasible and acceptable due to the reduced implementation barriers of sufficient time and space. In contrast, children reported that the activities outside of the classroom were preferred. Future school-based PA interventions should aim to achieve a balance between routine PA at a set time and PA that is flexible and adaptable. Further process evaluations of multi-component school-based PA interventions are warranted to develop the limited evidence base.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6272-1Physical activitySchoolsProcess evaluationChildrenWrite draw show and tellTeachers |
| spellingShingle | Sarah L. Taylor Robert J. Noonan Zoe R. Knowles Michael B. Owen Stuart J. Fairclough Process evaluation of a pilot multi-component physical activity intervention – active schools: Skelmersdale BMC Public Health Physical activity Schools Process evaluation Children Write draw show and tell Teachers |
| title | Process evaluation of a pilot multi-component physical activity intervention – active schools: Skelmersdale |
| title_full | Process evaluation of a pilot multi-component physical activity intervention – active schools: Skelmersdale |
| title_fullStr | Process evaluation of a pilot multi-component physical activity intervention – active schools: Skelmersdale |
| title_full_unstemmed | Process evaluation of a pilot multi-component physical activity intervention – active schools: Skelmersdale |
| title_short | Process evaluation of a pilot multi-component physical activity intervention – active schools: Skelmersdale |
| title_sort | process evaluation of a pilot multi component physical activity intervention active schools skelmersdale |
| topic | Physical activity Schools Process evaluation Children Write draw show and tell Teachers |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6272-1 |
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