Action 3:30R: Results of a cluster randomised feasibility study of a revised teaching assistant-led extracurricular physical activity intervention for 8 to 10 year olds

Jago, Russell; Tibbitts, Byron; Sanderson, Emily; Bird, Emma L.; Porter, Alice; Metcalfe, Chris; Powell, Jane E.; Gillett, Darren; Sebire, Simon J.

Abstract

Many children are not sufficiently physically active. We conducted a cluster-randomised feasibility trial of a revised after-school physical activity (PA) programme delivered by trained teaching assistants (TAs) to assess the potential evidence of promise for increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Participants (n = 335) aged 8–10 years were recruited from 12 primary schools in South West England. Six schools were randomised to receive the intervention and six acted as non-intervention controls. In intervention schools, TAs were trained to deliver an after-school programme for 15 weeks. The difference in mean accelerometer-assessed MVPA between intervention and control schools was assessed at follow-up (T1). The cost of programme delivery was estimated. Two schools did not deliver the intervention, meaning four intervention and six control schools were analysed at T1. There was no evidence for a difference in MVPA at T1 between intervention and control groups. Programme delivery cost was estimated at £2.06 per pupil per session. Existing provision in the 12 schools cost £5.91 per pupil per session. Action 3:30 was feasible to deliver and considerably cheaper than existing after-school provision. No difference in weekday MVPA was observed at T1 between the two groups, thus progression to a full trial is not warranted.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 14, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jan 6, 2019
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jan 7, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 7, 2019
• Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Print ISSN: 1661-7827
• Electronic ISSN: 1660-4601
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 131
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16010131
• Keywords: physical activity, children, teaching assistants, intervention, feasibility, after-school
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/854336
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/1/131
• Contract Date: Jan 7, 2019