Healthy Hydration Pilot in Elementary Schools

Virginia Commonwealth University563 enrolled

Overview

This study will pilot a school-based stakeholder-informed hydration intervention and examine its feasibility and preliminary efficacy.

Adequate water intake plays an important role in maintaining children's overall health, cognitive performance, fine motor skills and visual attention. It also plays a role in the maintenance of healthy weight. Many children do not consume sufficient water, especially in school. There is also potential that by providing enhanced access to water, there will be corresponding decreases in sugary beverage intake. Sugary beverages have been implicated as major contributors of excessive sugar and calorie intake in children, leading to multiple health concerns, such as type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity, and dental caries. Schools are an optimal environment to increase children's water intake. Healthy hydration is a priority for Richmond Public School (RPS), as they recently adopted a new hydration policy into their school wellness policy, with hydration stations installed in all RPS schools. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of a school-based hydration intervention. This study will pilot a school-based stakeholder-informed hydration intervention and examine its feasibility and preliminary efficacy.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

563

Conditions

Hydration Dental Caries Body Mass Index

Interventions

Hydration InterventionBEHAVIORAL

Teacher \& student ambassadors: serve as hydration role models, identify "Hydration Heroes", monitor filter lights on hydration stations, \& update the water meter visual. Kick-off event: event to kick off the hydration intervention to include water bottles distribution with a station to personalize, experiential activities, and information about the intervention. Social marketing: student-developed marketing campaign "Make water your superpower" will be placed in high-traffic areas of the school. Hydration Headquarters will be located in the lunchroom displaying a water meter illustrating bottle refills from the school's hydration stations. Behavioral reinforcement: on random days, students drinking water and/or with a water bottle will receive small incentives. Education and outreach: Hydration Tip Sheets, hydration signage in classrooms, and hydration trivia on hydration stations. Teachers will deliver 1 hydration lesson per month that align with Standards of Learning.

Control - Assessments OnlyOTHER

Assessments only

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 4 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion: * Lunchroom observations: All students (K-5th) who eat lunch in the cafeteria on assessment days are eligible for lunchroom observations (observing what beverages are selected and presence of water bottles) * BMI and dental caries assessments: 1) student is in the 3rd grade; 2) English or Spanish speaking. * Student surveys: Students in 4th-5th grade are eligible to complete surveys assessing beverage intake and perceptions of hydration practices in their district. * Staff surveys: All staff in the target schools will be eligible to complete the School Environment Survey. Exclusion: * Lunchroom observations: None. * BMI and dental caries assessments: Students are ineligible if they: 1) are non-English or non-Spanish speaking; 2) have a medical condition that precludes drinking water or that can put them at risk for failure to thrive or poor weight gain, 2) are unable to complete assessments due to developmental delays, 3) plan to move from the school district during the study period. * Student surveys: Students in 4th-5th grade who are unable to complete surveys due to developmental delays will be ineligible. * Staff surveys: None.

Locations (1)

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Recruitment of Three 4th or 5th Grade Student Students to Assume the Role as Student Ambassador.

Ability to recruit the required number of 4th or 5th grade student ambassadors at the intervention school at start of trial.

Time frame: 1 month (pre-intervention to baseline)

Retention of 3 Student Ambassadors

Percentage of student ambassadors who continued participation in their role throughout the intervention period (intervention group only).

Time frame: 4 months

Number of School Personnel Participants Who Reported Being Satisfied With the Intervention

The percent of personnel in the intervention group who agreed or strongly agreed with being satisfied with the intervention (intervention group only). Measured via surveys.

Time frame: Post (month 4)

Implementation of Intervention Activities.

Percentage of intervention activities conducted per protocol

Time frame: 4 months

Secondary Outcomes

Water Bottle Usage

% of students with water bottles in school

Time frame: Baseline, mid point 1 (month 2), mid point 2 (month 3), post (month 4)

Hydration Station Usage

Ounces of water used per student per day over 4 months measured by hydration station flow meters. Flow meters captured all water usage in all hydration stations over the 4-month trial. Values were collected from the flow meters at baseline and post (4 months).

Time frame: Baseline & post (4 month)

Sugar-sweetened Beverages at Lunch

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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