DE-PASS Best Evidence Statement (BESt): modifiable determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents aged 5–19 years–a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

IntroductionPhysical activity among children and adolescents remains insufficient, despite the substantial efforts made by researchers and policymakers. Identifying and furthering our understanding of potential modifiable determinants of physical activity behaviour (PAB) and sedentary behaviour (SB) is crucial for the development of interventions that promote a shift from SB to PAB. The current protocol details the process through which a series of systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses (MAs) will be conducted to produce a best-evidence statement (BESt) and inform policymakers. The overall aim is to identify modifiable determinants that are associated with changes in PAB and SB in children and adolescents (aged 5–19 years) and to quantify their effect on, or association with, PAB/SB.Methods and analysisA search will be performed in MEDLINE, SportDiscus, Web of Science, PsychINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled trials (CTs) that investigate the effect of interventions on PAB/SB and longitudinal studies that investigate the associations between modifiable determinants and PAB/SB at multiple time points will be sought. Risk of bias assessments will be performed using adapted versions of Cochrane’s RoB V.2.0 and ROBINS-I tools for RCTs and CTs, respectively, and an adapted version of the National Institute of Health’s tool for longitudinal studies. Data will be synthesised narratively and, where possible, MAs will be performed using frequentist and Bayesian statistics. Modifiable determinants will be discussed considering the settings in which they were investigated and the PAB/SB measurement methods used.Ethics and disseminationNo ethical approval is needed as no primary data will be collected. The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and academic conferences where possible. The BESt will also be shared with policy makers within the DE-PASS consortium in the first instance.Systematic review registrationCRD42021282874.

DE-PASS best evidence statement (BESt): determinants of adolescents’ device-based physical activity and sedentary behaviour in settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…A common protocol for all SRMAs for children and adolescents conducted under the DE-PASS consortium has been registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) on October 12, 2021 with the registration number: CRD42021282874 and subsequently published [35]. The present study was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement [36].…”

“…This search was updated in July 2023 [38]. A detailed description of the search terms, Boolean commands, and field indicators are detailed in the protocol paper [35]. The following search terms were relevant and used for this systematic review (SR): a) PA, b) SB, c) RCT, d) CT, e) determinants commonly used in PA research, f ) adolescents, and g) device-based PA/SB measurement methods (e.g., accelerometer, pedometer).…”

“…Conflicts between reviewers regarding the correctness of the extracted data were resolved through online bilateral consensus meetings. The data extracted included the description of the study and the respective intervention, participants' characteristics, the measures of PA/SB and modifiable determinants, the study time frames, and results [35].…”

System dynamics simulation models on overweight and obesity in children and adolescents: A systematic review

“…Furthermore, there are clear social inequalities with higher prevalence of overweight and obesity among children of lower socio‐economic status 7 . Multiple biological, psychosocial, cultural, environmental, and economic drivers of behavior underlie positive energy balance leading to overweight and consequently obesity 8–12 . These drivers operate at multiple levels with a variety of mechanisms that interact with one another which is often illustrated, but less often operationalized, as ecological models in public health 13–15 .…”