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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT06765460

Prescription of Exercise in Children

Most pediatric populations do not meet the physical activity (PA) recommendations set by international organizations. The effectiveness of casual PA advice provided during medical consultations has not been adequately assessed for its role in fostering this healthy habit. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of medical prescriptions for PA in increasing PA levels in children compared to standard health advice (HA), as well as measuring the effectiveness of these recommendations in reducing daily screen time (ST) in the pediatric population. A randomized controlled clinical trial with parallel groups was conducted, including 130 participants aged 6 to 14 years. Data on PA levels (duration and intensity), ST, and anthropometric measures were collected via questionnaire. Participants were divided into two groups: HA (3 minutes) and medical prescription of exercise [MPE] (10 minutes). PA levels were assessed at 3 and 12 months, with results recorded using the same questionnaire. A multivariate data analysis was performed. Further research is needed to develop effective and sustainable public health interventions to prevent long-term sedentary behavior in children.

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Key information

Conditions

Children Behavior Exercise Motor Activity Physical Activity Screen Time

Age range

6 year–14 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas, 2, 18014, Granada

Granada, 18014, Spain

About this study

  • Both HA and MPE interventions could effectively increase children's PA duration and intensity, resulting in a higher PA classification range.
  • An inverse relationship may be identified between ST and PA, suggesting that reducing ST could encourage healthier habits in children.
  • Pediatricians play a pivotal role in promoting lifestyle changes through brief yet targeted interventions, significantly influencing children's PA levels and reducing ST. These findings highlight the need for further research to optimize public health initiatives within pediatric care.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

We included pediatric patients between 6 and 14 years of age who were part of two pediatric PC groups of an urban health centre in Granada (Spain) who attended a face-to-face consultation of any type.

Exclusion criteria

chronic or complex pathology preventing moderate or intense physical activity or those who did not give consent

Treatment and study plan

Medical prescription of exercise

Behavioral

MPE consists of dedicating a specific time to establish a specific and individualized exercise plan for the patient, with the premises of fully assessing their physical fitness, motivation, adaptability to change and the possibility of exercising within their social environment, as well as the achievement of specific objectives within an agreed follow-up period

health advice

Behavioral

HA consists of providing the patient with information and motivation in line with general international recommendations to try to increase PA levels in their daily life. This advice can be given in a short period of time (up to three minutes) during any medical consultation

Primary outcomes

  1. Efectiveness of MPE and HA

    Time frame: from enrollment to 12 months

    test whether brief HA and/or individualized MPE in PC increases physical activity levels in childhood.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Medical Prescription of Exercise in Children to Increase Physical Activity Levels.

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jan 9, 2025
Registry last updated
Jan 9, 2025

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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