A1 Journal article (refereed)
Rethinking children’s physical activity interventions at school : A new context-specific approach (2023)


Jago, R., Salway, R., House, D., Beets, M., Lubans, D. R., Woods, C., & de Vocht, F. (2023). Rethinking children’s physical activity interventions at school : A new context-specific approach. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, Article 1149883. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1149883


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Jago, Russell; Salway, Ruth; House, Danielle; Beets, Michael; Lubans, David Revalds; Woods, Catherine; de Vocht, Frank

Journal or series: Frontiers in Public Health

eISSN: 2296-2565

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 13/04/2023

Volume: 11

Article number: 1149883

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1149883

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/86902


Abstract

Physical activity is important for children’s health. However, evidence suggests that many children and adults do not meet international physical activity recommendations. Current school-based interventions have had limited effect on physical activity and alternative approaches are needed. Context, which includes school setting, ethos, staff, and sociodemographic factors, is a key and largely ignored contributing factor to school-based physical activity intervention effectiveness, impacting in several interacting ways.

Conceptualization: Current programs focus on tightly-constructed content that ignores the context in which the program will be delivered, thereby limiting effectiveness. We propose a move away from uniform interventions that maximize internal validity toward a flexible approach that enables schools to tailor content to their specific context.

Evaluation designs: Evaluation of context-specific interventions should explicitly consider context. This is challenging in cluster randomized controlled trial designs. Thus, alternative designs such as natural experiment and stepped-wedge designs warrant further consideration.

Primary outcome: A collective focus on average minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity may not always be the most appropriate choice. A wider range of outcomes may improve children’s physical activity and health in the long-term. In this paper, we argue that greater consideration of school context is key in the design and analysis of school-based physical activity interventions and may help overcome existing limitations in the design of effective interventions and thus progress the field. While this focus on context-specific interventions and evaluation is untested, we hope to stimulate debate of the key issues to improve future physical activity intervention development and implementation.


Keywords: physical activity; physical training; intervention; schools (educational institutions); planning and design; development (active); health promotion

Free keywords: physical activity; children; trial; context; intervention—behavioral


Contributing organizations


Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1


Last updated on 2024-12-10 at 16:45