Author:
Maher Carol,Christian Hayley,Nathan Nicole,Okely Anthony,Bogomolova Svetlana,Lewis Lucy K.,Cliff Dylan P.,Esterman Adrian,Milte Rachel,Rosenkranz Richard R.,Curtis Rachel G.,Brinsley Jacinta,Ferguson Ty,Virgara Rosa,Richardson Mandy,Brannelly Kylie,Stanley Rebecca,Schranz Natasha,Campbell Perry,Weaver R. Glenn,Noetel Michael,Wolfenden Luke
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Children’s physical activity and screen time behaviours impact their physical health and well-being. In Australia, less than half of children meet daily physical activity recommendations and only one-third meet daily screen time recommendations. Nearly half a million Australian school children aged 5-12 attend Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) weekly, activities undertaken at OSHC play a key role in meeting these recommendations. Currently, physical activity and screen time practices in OSHC vary and lack policy guidance. The Activated OSHC program is a policy-based intervention that supports OSHC services to implement the physical activity and screen time guidelines.
Methods
192 OSHC services across Australia will be recruited. 96 services will be randomly allocated to receive the Activated OSHC program. OSHC coordinators will complete online surveys examining physical activity and screen time scheduling, cost, acceptability, and feasibility. Primary outcome; changes in the proportion of intervention and control services meeting OSHC sector physical activity and screen time guidelines, and secondary outcomes; changes in children’s physical activity and screen time behaviours; changes in staff behaviour will be assessed using mixed-effects regression models.
Discussion
The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the Activated OSHC program on children’s physical activity and screen time.
Impact
Recent Australian research in Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) has identified significant inconsistency in practices related to physical activity and screen time, compounded by an absence of explicit policy guidance.
The Activated OSHC program is a policy-based intervention that supports OSHC services to implement the Australian OSHC physical activity and screen time guidelines.
This study will assess the implementation and effectiveness of the Activated OSHC program in an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 2 trial design.
Implementation of outside school hours care sector physical activity and screen time guidelines may improve children’s physical activity and screen time behaviours.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
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