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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03163004

Implementation of Standing Desks at School

Since sedentary time is related to various health outcomes and is already highly prevalent in childhood and adolescence, effective strategies are needed to tackle this health problem. Children and adolescents spend the majority of the day in a classroom while sitting at a desk. Therefore, the classroom is an important setting for implementing specific strategies to reduce sedentary time.

One of the strategies that gained more attention during the past years is replacing traditional desks and chairs with standing desks.

This project evaluates the implementation of standing desks in primary and secondary schools via a clustered randomized controlled trial using an intervention and control condition. Effects on sedentary time during in class, sedentary activities during leisure time, breaks in sedentary time, and related determinants (secondary outcomes) are evaluated.

Next to effect evaluation, it is also equally important to evaluate how teachers and pupils perceive this change in the classroom environment. Both groups need to be positive in order to obtain the adoption and sustainability. Therefore, focus groups with pupils and interviews with teachers are conducted, with a specific focus on the perceived barriers. Moreover, the process evaluation is conducted quantitatively as well by using questionnaires in pupils and teachers.

The project results will lead to recommendations on how to broadly implement standing desks into primary and secondary schools.

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Key information

Conditions

Health Behavior Behavior Sedentary Behavior

Age range

9 year–18 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Ghent University, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences

Ghent, Belgium

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy pupils of primary schools (5th grade) and secondary schools (10th grade)

Treatment and study plan

Implementation of standing desks

Behavioral

Three standing desks will be introduced to the classroom

Primary outcomes

  1. Decrease in children's sedentary time during school hours

    Time frame: One schoolyear

    In the questionnaire, following item was used to subjectively assess the outcome: 'On average how many hours do you spent sedentary in class?' Answer categories ranged from 'None' to 'More than 7 hours per day'. In addition, a subsample wore an ActivPAL inclinometer to objectively measure sedentary time. This thigh-worn device uses accelerometer-derived information about thigh position to calculate the outcome.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Possible decrease in TV time on week- and weekend days

    Time frame: One schoolyear

    In the questionnaire, children and adolescents were asked on average how many hours they spent in front of a television, separately for week- and weekend days. Answer categories ranged from 'Non' to 'More than 4 hours per day'. The items are derived from the reliable and valid ENERGY-questionnaire.

  2. Possible decrease in computer time on week- and weekend days

    Time frame: One schoolyear

    In the questionnaire, children and adolescents were asked on average how many hours they spent in front of a computer, separately for week- and weekend days. Answer categories ranged from 'Non' to 'More than 4 hours per day'. The items are derived from the reliable and valid ENERGY-questionnaire.

  3. Increase in the number of breaks in sedentary activities

    Time frame: One schoolyear

    In the questionnaire, children and adolescents were asked on average, how many times they interrupt their TV time, computer time and sitting during school hours. Answer categories ranged from '0' to '4 times or more per hour'. The items were derived from the ENERGY-questionnaire.

  4. Improvement of determinants related to breaking up sedentary activities

    Time frame: One schoolyear

    In the questionnaire, questions were added on attitude, self-efficacy, preferences and habits related to breaking up sedentary activities, with answer categories ranging from 'Totally agree' to 'Totally disagree'. The items were derived from the ENERGY-questionnaire

  5. Improvement in school well-being

    Time frame: One schoolyear

    Three school-related variables (i.e. relationship with classmates, involvement in organising school activities, and relationship with teachers) were assessed in the questionnaire using items from the Flemish Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children questionnaire.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Ghent

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Implementing Standing Desks in Primary and Secondary Schools to Reduce Sedentary Time: Effect and Process Evaluation.

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
May 22, 2017
Registry last updated
Oct 24, 2017

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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