The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a classroom teachers' educational intervention on 1st and 2nd grades children's physical activity level and energy expenditure during physical education classes in elementary public schools, in São Paulo, Brazil.
This study is a School-based Randomized Controlled Trial. Three-step cluster sampling was used for subject selection. In the first step, 8 schools in the Vila Mariana district - São Paulo were selected and assigned randomly to physical activity intervention (3 schools) or control condition (5 schools). In the second step, all 48 classes from the 1st and 2nd grades were selected. In the third step, 352 children were randomly selected compose the observational group. In both groups, questionnaire data and SOFIT's observation were collected two times: "pre" (immediately before the intervention), and "post" (immediately after the intervention), with a six weeks interval between them. No educational intervention was taken place in the control schools while the project was running. Afterwards control schools received training.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
352
Intervention was applied to classroom teachers by the multidisciplinary team of the RRIDA Project. Training lasted six weeks, 12 hours devoted to physical activity and 18 hours to nutritional content. Modules of educational activities to classroom teachers were to be replicated at PE classes to children from 1st and 2nd grades of three exposed schools. The physical activity module was based on a theoretical approach of physical activity benefits and risks for health, children's physical fitness and activity patterns, physical education and change behavior models.
Federal University of Sao Paulo
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Change in children's Physical Activity Level / Energy Expenditure after an Educational Intervention for classroom teachers.
From eight elementary Public Schools we randomly selected three to receive an educational intervention for teachers. In order to evaluate intervention results, all the 1st and 2nd grades, from exposed and unexposed schools were nominated to have selected children. In each class, eight children were randomly selected. To assess children's level of physical activity, Physical Education classes were recorded. The videotapes analysis set the level of student's physical activity, teacher's attitude, and the class context. The observation instrument used was SOFIT - System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time. We analyzed and discussed the change in children's Physical Activity Level and Energy Expenditure before and after the Educational Intervention to classroom teachers, with a six weeks interval.
Time frame: Children's Physical Activity Level / Energy Expenditure were measured before and after an Educational Intervention to classroom teachers, with a six weeks interval.
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