The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of an active break program at school on physical activity levels and enjoyment, and on-task behavior in children.
The protocol will include third and fourth-grade students (children aged 8 to 10 years) from elementary schools in the Valparaíso Region, Chile. Four school classes from two schools (intervention and control school) will be included. The intervention school will carry out the active break program, ACTIVA-MENTE This program consists of the application of a 4-and-a-half-minute video with moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity. These breaks will take place 6 times a day in classes for 6 weeks.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
60
Active break program
Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte
Valparaíso, Chile
Physical activity
Physical activity will be measured with waist-worn ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers for seven days. Physical activity intensities will be derived from the accelerometer counts. Evenson cut points will be used to classify counts into physical activity intensities. Physical activity will be classified as light, moderate-to-vigorous and total physical activity.
Time frame: 6 weeks
On-task behavior
The Direct Behaviour Rating Scale will be used to measure on-task behavior at the individual level. This scale measures academically engaged, respectful and disruptive behavior. For each domain, the scale uses a per cent grading system in which 0% indicates 'never' while 100% indicates 'always'. At the group level, the Classroom Behaviour and Assets Survey will be used teachers who will be asked to indicate the proportion of the class displaying on-task behavior as defined by the individual behavior tool. Response options include: 0 (0 students), 1 (1-2 students), 2 (a few students), 3 (about ¼ of the class), 4 (about ½ of the class), 5 (about ¾ of the class), 6 (most of the class), and 7 (all of the class).
Time frame: 6 weeks
Physical activity enjoyment
The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) will be used to measure enjoyment during the active breaks. Each of the 14 items of this instrument includes a Likert-type scale that ranges from 1 (Disagree a lot) to 5 (Agree a lot).
Time frame: 6 weeks
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