A school-based intervention to promote physical activity among adolescent girls: Rationale, design, and baseline data from the Girls in Sport group randomised controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical activity levels decline markedly among girls during adolescence. School-based interventions that are multi-component in nature, simultaneously targeting curricular, school environment and policy, and community links, are a promising approach for promoting physical activity. This report describes the rationale, design and baseline data from the Girls in Sport group randomised trial, which aims to prevent the decline in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) among adolescent girls.Methods/DesignA community-based participatory research approach and action learning framework are used with measurements at baseline and 18-month follow-up. Within each intervention school, a committee develops an action plan aimed at meeting the primary objective (preventing the decline in accelerometer-derived MVPA). Academic partners and the State Department of Education and Training act as critical friends. Control schools continue with their usual school programming. 24 schools were matched then randomized into intervention (n = 12) and control (n = 12) groups. A total of 1518 girls (771 intervention and 747 control) completed baseline assessments (86% response rate). Useable accelerometer data (≥10 hrs/day on at least 3 days) were obtained from 79% of this sample (n = 1199). Randomisation resulted in no differences between intervention and control groups on any of the outcomes. The mean age (SE) of the sample was 13.6 (± 0.02) years and they spent less than 5% of their waking hours in MVPA (4.85 ± 0.06).DiscussionGirls in Sport will test the effectiveness of schools working towards the same goal, but developing individual, targeted interventions that bring about changes in curriculum, school environment and policy, and community links. By using community-based participatory research and an action learning framework in a secondary school setting, it aims to add to the body of literature on effective school-based interventions through promoting and sustaining increased physical activity participation among adolescent girls.Trial Registration NumberAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ACTRN12610001077055

Promoting physical activity among adolescent girls: the Girls in Sport group randomized trial

“…There were no variations to the methods after the trial had commenced. The detailed methods of the study have been previously published and are readily available through an open access journal [13]. …”

An intervention to improve the physical activity levels of children: Design and rationale of the ‘Active Classrooms’ cluster randomised controlled trial

“…In an effort to maximise parent and student consent a number of strategies that have been used successfully in similar research as below [34][35][36] will be adopted. All students in participating classes will be provided with an information package that will contain a child friendly brochure and a parent/guardian brochure outlining the study, an assent form, and a consent form for parents/guardians asking for consent for their child to participate in the study data collection.…”

“…due to water activities, absence etc. To improve compliance, teachers will be sent a text message each data collection week reminding them to distribute the accelerometers and complete the log [34,35].…”

Bristol Girls Dance Project: a cluster randomised controlled trial of an after-school dance programme to increase physical activity among 11- to 12-year-old girls

“…4,7,8 Throughout childhood and adolescence, girls spend less time in moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) than boys, with reports of > 60% of girls' time being spent on sedentary behaviours. 7 Therefore, there is a need for effective strategies to attenuate this decline in PA among girls and to reduce the amount of time spent being sedentary.…”

“…Intervention approaches have included allowing schools to develop bespoke action plans to prevent the decline in girls' MVPA. 7 The Nutrition and Enjoyable Activity for Teen Girls intervention 15 provided enhanced school sports sessions for 12-to 14-year-old girls, held seminars and workshops, and used various tools to help self-monitor activity. The choice of music and appealing activities during the sports sessions were incorporated to engage girls.…”