Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment (SPACE): rationale and study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

BMC Public Health

Study Protocol

Brian W. Timmons¹  Leigh M. Vanderloo²  Shauna M. Burke³  Jennifer D. Irwin³  Andrew M. Johnson³  Anca Gaston⁴  Molly Driediger⁵  Patricia Tucker⁵ 

[1] Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada;School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada;School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada;School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1201 Western Road, Elborn College, Room 2547, N6G 1H1, London, ON, Canada;

关键词: Physical activity;    Childcare;    Preschool;    Sedentary behaviour;    Outdoor playtime;    Early years;    Intervention;    Protocol;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-016-2775-9

 received in 2016-01-06, accepted in 2016-01-22,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundYoung children are prone to low levels of physical activity in childcare. Researchers have identified that preschoolers tend to be more active outdoors than indoors, with higher activity levels occurring during the first 10 minutes of outdoor playtime. Additionally, interventions incorporating either staff training or the inclusion of play equipment have been effective at increasing children’s activity in this setting. As such, the overarching objective of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) intervention is to improve the physical activity levels of preschoolers during childcare hours, utilizing a combination of the above components. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a detailed account of the protocol, innovative methods, and evaluation plans used in the implementation of the SPACE study; in an effort to support the development of further research in this field.Methods/DesignThe SPACE study, a cluster randomized controlled trial, involves 22 childcare centres randomly allocated to either the experimental (n = 11) or the control (n = 11) group. Childcare centres receiving the intervention will adopt an 8-week physical activity intervention with the following components: 1. shorter, more frequent bouts of outdoor playtime (4 × 30 min periods rather than 2 × 60 min periods); 2. new portable play equipment (e.g., obstacle course, balls); and, 3. staff training (1 × 4 hr workshop). Actical accelerometers will be used to assess total physical activity with measurements taken at baseline (i.e., week 0), immediately post-intervention (i.e., week 8), and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. As secondary objectives, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention on preschoolers’: a) sedentary time; b) standardized body mass index scores (percentiles); c) health-related quality of life; and childcare providers’ physical activity-related knowledge and self-efficacy to implement physical activity.DiscussionThe SPACE study aims to increase the low levels of physical activity observed within childcare centres. The findings of this work may be useful to policy makers and childcare providers to consider modifications to the current childcare curriculum and associated outdoor play time.Trial registrationISRCTN70604107 (October 8, 2014)

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Tucker et al. 2016