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Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT03847831

Feasibility Study of the Pilot Post-primary Active School Flag (PPASF) Program

The Feasibility of the post-primary Active School Flag (PPASF) programme. The PPASF is an initative from the Department of Education and Skills in a whole-school program to increase physical activity opportunities involving the students in second level education schools in Ireland. Various actors involved in the process include admin, teachers, and students to create more physical activity opportunities for the students in the school. Process evaluation and fidelity of the program are carried out during the year long process for certificate and two years for achieving the flag. Results of this study will inform the design and implementation of the PPASF in a national roll out across Irish second level education schools.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Physical Activity Behavior Educational Problems Health Behavior Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Motor Activity

Age range

12 year–19 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Limerick

Limerick, Ireland

About this study

This is a feasibility study of the post-primary Active School Flag (PPASF) programme. Schools in Ireland that meet the eligibility criteria of; 1) second level education school, 2) has not already achieved the Active School Flag, 3) volunteered to be in the study were selected to take part in this pilot study. Schools not in the programme were matched to provide a comparison data set.

Schools involved in the study are given resources to support the year long program so the school may achieve the PPASF certificate. To achieve the certificate, the schools needed to complete 17 tasks throughout the school year; 1) a staff slideshow, 2) an PPASF team slideshow, 3) class time slideshow 4) PPASF training day, 5) an PPASF awareness week (towards the beginning of the year), 6) website showcase, 7) PPASF whole school questionnaire, 8) PPASF launch event, 9) PPASF action plan, 10) 'Did You Know?' campaign, 11) PA module as part of Social, personal and health education (SPHE) subject for junior cycle students, 12) Active School WALKWAY, 13) Community Mapping of extra curriculum activities, 14) Community Event, 5) Active School Week, 16) PPASF accreditation visit, and 17) school PA space audits.

The PPASF is part of the developing Healthy Ireland Demonstration Project, and the feasibility to collect data in the form of accelerometers, physical health measures and self-perceptions of health are also included in the feasilibility study.

The feasibility study will be monitored quantitatively through a custom design fidelity check list, and in depth process evaluation that includes qualitative methods such as one to one interviews and focus group interviews throughout the academic year.

The secondary outcomes are based on the hypotheses that 1) intervention schools will have more physical activity opportunities and thus 2) more physically active students, especially during the school day. Furthermore, there would be 3) a decrease in sitting time, 4) positive associations between academic related behaviours with physical activity behaviours, 5) and no increase in BMI.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • students and teachers in the enrolled schools

Exclusion criteria

  • students and teachers not enrolled in the schools
  • students who did not provide consent or assent to take part in the study

Treatment and study plan

Active School Flag Program

Behavioral

Schools enrolled in the program take part in the 17 actions described in the PPASF.

Primary outcomes

  1. Adherence to the PPASF programme's components in the schools

    Time frame: up to 9 months

    Customized fidelity check list based on the 17 program elements.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of participants in designated areas of school assessed through a modified version of the SOPLAY protocol

    Time frame: up to 9 months

    A modified version of the "System for Observing Play and Leisure Active In Youth (SOPLAY)" protocol in pre-specified designed areas of the school grounds. The protocol is carried out once a month, carried out by trained students in the school, with assistance of teachers and researchers. Trained students scan the designed area of the school ground from left to right and tally the number of people they encounter that are sedentary, walking or very active. Additional information is collected about the accessibility of the area, the suitability for physical activity, whether there is staff supervision in the area, if the activities are organized physical activity, and if there is any equipment. The count data is marked for each observation period and monitored over time.

  2. Changes in physical activity opportunities through questionnaires

    Time frame: up to 9 months

    Survey items to state the opportunities in school lessons, recess and after-school activities. A check box of sport and physical activities is counted and compared between time points.

  3. Changes in physical activity levels by accelerometer

    Time frame: up to 9 months

    Accelerometers placed on the thigh for a minimum of 4 days (1 weekend day) and at least 10h of wear time per day

  4. Changes in physical activity levels by self-reported physical activity through questionnaires

    Time frame: up to 9 months

    Self-report PA by questionnaire. Two short measures (Prochaska et al, 2001). Both response scales are from 0-7days. Q1 based on the past 7 days. Q2 is based on the average week. Results are averaged and rounded up.

  5. Changes in (accelerometer based) sedentary time during the school day

    Time frame: up to 9 months

    Accelerometers placed on the thigh to measure inclination and algorithm to detect sitting and lying time.

  6. Changes to self-reported academic performance

    Time frame: up to 9 months

    Self-report surveys of perceived academic performance. A four point scale of 'below average' 'average' 'good', 'excellent'.

  7. Changes to self-reported academic performance behaviours

    Time frame: up to 9 months

    Self-report surveys of Harter's self-perception scale for adolescents. Only the Scholastic Competence domain items are used through a structured alternative format. Items grouped into the subscale of Scholastic competence in accordance to the master list of items to produce a summed score.

  8. Changes to school records of Academic behaviours

    Time frame: up to 9 months

    School records of behavours, including absences and behavioural sanctions at the school level, in comparison to previous 5 years records.

  9. Changes in BMI

    Time frame: up to 9 months

    Weight measured in kilograms and height in meters to combine to report BMI in kg/m^2

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Limerick

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Postprimary Active School Flag Feasibility

Acronym: PPASF

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2030
First posted
Feb 20, 2019
Registry last updated
May 16, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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