A total of 600 children between 10 and 12 years of age will be randomized among two experimental conditions: physical activity interacting with a video (n = 300), and sedentary activity (n = 300). The experimental condition will take place in the school settings during the school day through a between-subject design with a total of two measurements, pre, and post-test. Using the latest advances, the transient effects of the experimental conditions on cognitive and academic performance will be measured. The experimental condition was crafted through a qualitative design involving semi-structured interviews with teachers (n = 41) and members of the management team (n = 16), along with questionnaires administered to students (n = 600). To enhance and ensure its sustainability, the same process will be replicated after the intervention. Interviews and questionnaires were meticulously crafted by the RE-AIM framework, and subsequently validated through a rigorous process involving an expert panel (n = 30) utilizing the Delphi methodology. This project has the potential to substantially contribute to the field of acute physical activity and could have a meaningful transference on the educational system. This method might be prescribed as an effective teaching strategy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
600
This experimental condition will be implemented five times a week, once per day, over 8 weeks. It will follow a structured format, including seven consecutive 40-second blocks of physical activity. The total video duration will amount to 9 minutes (40 seconds of activity followed by 20 seconds of rest, maintaining a 2:1 work-to-rest ratio). Additionally, participants will engage in 5 minutes of warm-up exercises and 5 minutes of cool-down activities. The experimental condition will consist of 10 videos, each centered around one of five different themes (a different one will be administered every day).
University of the Balearic Islands
Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
Academic achievement
Only the general academic fluency index was administered, consisting of the reading, mathematics, and writing fluency subtests. Reading fluency assessed the participant's capacity to read simple sentences rapidly, mathematical fluency gauged the ability to quickly solve simple addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems, and writing fluency measured the skill to formulate and write sentences promptly.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Inhibition-attention and cognitive flexibility
The assessment of inhibition-attention and cognitive flexibility was conducted using the "Trail Making Test".
Time frame: 8 weeks
Working memory
The measurement of working memory through "The Digit Memory Test," specifically focusing on auditory attention and verbal memory.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Selective attention
The measurement of selective attention within a limited timeframe was carried out using the "D2 test."
Time frame: 8 weeks
Design of active breaks: semi-structured questionnaires
Pre- and post-intervention, to guarantee a proper design and future sustainability of the experimental condition, semi-structured questionnaires are administered to students. The responses are systematically categorized.
Time frame: 2 months (november and may)
Design of active breaks: semi-structured interviews
Pre- and post-intervention, to guarantee a proper design and future sustainability of the experimental condition, semi-structured interviews are administered to teachers and the management team. The responses are systematically categorized.
Time frame: 2 months (november and may)
Physical activity patterns
Physical activity patterns will be measured through accelerometry using the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT. Additionally, the intensity of the brain breaks will also be calculated with the same tool.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Self-report physical activity patterns
Physical activity levels over the preceding seven days were assessed using the PAQ-C.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Self-report sedentary patterns
Sedentary patterns over the preceding 7 days were assessed using the YAP-S.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Self-report physical fitness
The level of physical fitness was assessed using the self-administered IFIS questionnaire.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Socioeconomic level
The socioeconomic status was assessed through the Family Affluence Scale-II.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Student's behavior
The behavior of students in a regular classroom setting was examined using the "Child and Adolescent Behavior Inventory", inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity parts, for teachers.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Body composition
Parents self-reported the body composition. In this case, parents will just report height (cm) and weight (kg).
Time frame: 8 weeks
Creativity
Participants were required to complete the maximum number of unusual uses for two objects within a 5-minute timeframe.
Time frame: 8 weeks
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