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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Study protocol

A cluster randomised trial to evaluate a physical activity intervention among 3-5 year old children attending long day care services: study protocol

Authors: Meghan Finch, Luke Wolfenden, Philip J Morgan, Megan Freund, Rebecca Wyse, John Wiggers

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Background

Young children are not participating in recommended levels of physical activity and exhibit high levels of sedentary behaviour. Childcare services provide access to large numbers of young children for prolonged periods, yet there is limited experimental evidence regarding the effectiveness of physical activity interventions implemented in this setting. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of a multi-component physical activity intervention, delivered by childcare service staff, in increasing the physical activity levels of children attending long day care services.

Methods/Design

The study will employ a cluster randomised controlled trial design. Three hundred children aged between 3-5 years from twenty randomly selected long day care services in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia will be invited to participate in the trial. Ten of the 20 long day care services will be randomly allocated to deliver the intervention with the remaining ten services allocated to a wait list control group. The physical activity intervention will consist of a number of strategies including: delivering structured fundamental movement skill activities, increasing physical activity opportunities, increasing staff role modelling, providing children with a physical activity promoting indoor and outdoor environment and limiting children's small screen recreation and sedentary behaviours. Intervention effectiveness will be measured via child physical activity levels during attendance at long day care. The study also seeks to determine the acceptability and extent of implementation of the intervention by services and their staff participating in the study.

Discussion

The trial will address current gaps in the research evidence base and contribute to the design and delivery of future interventions promoting physical activity for young children in long day care settings.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12610000087055
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
A cluster randomised trial to evaluate a physical activity intervention among 3-5 year old children attending long day care services: study protocol
Authors
Meghan Finch
Luke Wolfenden
Philip J Morgan
Megan Freund
Rebecca Wyse
John Wiggers
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-534

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