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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Study protocol

A cluster randomised controlled trial of an intervention to increase the implementation of school physical activity policies and guidelines: study protocol for the physically active children in education (PACE) study

Authors: Nicole Nathan, John Wiggers, Adrian E. Bauman, Chris Rissel, Andrew Searles, Penny Reeves, Christopher Oldmeadow, Patti-Jean Naylor, Angie L. Cradock, Rachel Sutherland, Karen Gillham, Bernadette Duggan, Sally Chad, Nicole McCarthy, Matthew Pettett, Rebecca Jackson, Kathryn Reilly, Vanessa Herrmann, Kirsty Hope, Adam Shoesmith, Luke Wolfenden

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

In an attempt to improve children’s physical activity levels governments have introduced policies specifying the minimum time schools are to schedule physical activity each week. Despite this, the majority of schools in many jurisdictions fail to implement these policies. This study will assess the effectiveness of a multi-component implementation strategy on increasing the minutes of planned physical activity scheduled by primary school teachers each week.

Methods

A cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted in 62 primary schools in the Hunter New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Schools will be randomly allocated to receive either a multi-component implementation strategy that includes; obtaining executive support, training in-school champions, provision of tools and resources, implementation prompts, reminders and feedback; or usual practice. The study will employ an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design, assessing both policy implementation and individual (student) behavioural outcomes. The primary trial outcome of mean minutes of physical activity scheduled by classroom teachers across the school week will be measured via teacher log-book at baseline and approximately 12 and 18 months post baseline. A nested evaluation of the impact of policy implementation on child physical activity will be undertaken of students in Grades 2 and 3. Analyses will be performed using an intention to treat framework. Linear mixed effects regression models will be used to assess intervention effects on the primary outcome at both follow-up periods.

Discussion

This study will be the one of the first well powered randomised trials internationally to examine the impact of an implementation strategy for a physical activity policy in primary schools and will address a fundamental research translation gap. Given the dearth of research, the findings will be important in informing future implementation efforts in this setting.

Trial registration

ANZCTR ACTRN12617001265​369 version 1 registered 1st September 2017.
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Metadata
Title
A cluster randomised controlled trial of an intervention to increase the implementation of school physical activity policies and guidelines: study protocol for the physically active children in education (PACE) study
Authors
Nicole Nathan
John Wiggers
Adrian E. Bauman
Chris Rissel
Andrew Searles
Penny Reeves
Christopher Oldmeadow
Patti-Jean Naylor
Angie L. Cradock
Rachel Sutherland
Karen Gillham
Bernadette Duggan
Sally Chad
Nicole McCarthy
Matthew Pettett
Rebecca Jackson
Kathryn Reilly
Vanessa Herrmann
Kirsty Hope
Adam Shoesmith
Luke Wolfenden
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6492-z

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