Rationale, design and methods for a randomised and controlled trial to evaluate "Animal Fun" - a program designed to enhance physical and mental health in young children

BMC Pediatrics

Study Protocol

Tanya Packer¹  Alma Dender¹  Leon M Straker²  Lynn Jensen²  Carly Reid³  Nicholas C Barrett³  Sue McLaren³  Clare Roberts³  Sharon Elsley³  Greer Bradbury³  Jan P Piek³  Rosie Rooney³ 

[1] School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth, Australia;Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia;School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University, Perth, Australia;Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia;School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia;Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia;

关键词: Physical Activity Program;    Developmental Coordination Disorder;    Motor Ability;    Intervention School;    Control School;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2431-10-78

 received in 2010-10-04, accepted in 2010-11-04,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundChildren with poor motor ability have been found to engage less in physical activities than other children, and a lack of physical activity has been linked to problems such as obesity, lowered bone mineral density and cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, if children are confident with their fine and gross motor skills, they are more likely to engage in physical activities such as sports, crafts, dancing and other physical activity programs outside of the school curriculum which are important activities for psychosocial development. The primary objective of this project is to comprehensively evaluate a whole of class physical activity program called Animal Fun designed for Pre-Primary children. This program was designed to improve the child's movement skills, both fine and gross, and their perceptions of their movement ability, promote appropriate social skills and improve social-emotional development.MethodsThe proposed randomized and controlled trial uses a multivariate nested cohort design to examine the physical (motor coordination) and psychosocial (self perceptions, anxiety, social competence) outcomes of the program. The Animal Fun program is a teacher delivered universal program incorporating animal actions to facilitate motor skill and social skill acquisition and practice. Pre-intervention scores on motor and psychosocial variables for six control schools and six intervention schools will be compared with post-intervention scores (end of Pre-Primary year) and scores taken 12 months later after the children's transition to primary school Year 1. 520 children aged 4.5 to 6 years will be recruited and it is anticipated that 360 children will be retained to the 1 year follow-up. There will be equal numbers of boys and girls.DiscussionIf this program is found to improve the child's motor and psychosocial skills, this will assist in the child's transition into the first year of school. As a result of these changes, it is anticipated that children will have greater enjoyment participating in physical activities which will further promote long term physical and mental health.Trial registrationThis trial is registered in the Australian and New Zealand Clinical trials Registry (ACTRN12609000869279).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Piek et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010