"Pause-2-Play": a pilot schoolbased obesity prevention program

"Pause-2-Play": um programa piloto escolar de prevenção de obesidade

ORIGINAL ARTICLES ARTIGOS ORIGINAIS

"Pause-2-Play": a pilot schoolbased obesity prevention program

"Pause-2-Play": um programa piloto escolar de prevenção de obesidade

Gregory Killough^I; Danielle Battram^II; Joanne Kurtz^II; Gillian Mandich^III; Laura Francis^II; Meizi He^IV

^ICarlington Community and Health Services, 900 Merivale Road, Ottawa, ON

^IIBrescia University College, 1285 Western Road, London, ON

^IIIMiddlesex-London Health Unit, 50 King Street, London, ON

^IVUniversity of Texas at San Antonio. One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX USA. 78249. Email: [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: "Pause-2-Play" is an obesity prevention program targeting screen-related sedentary behaviours and increasing physical activity among elementary school students. The program consisted of a Behavioural Modification Curriculum and a Health Promoting Afterschool Program. This pilot study reports program feasibility, practicability, and impact.

METHODS: the 12-week pilot program was implemented with 32 grade five and six students. Program feasibility and practicability were assessed using a qualitative approach. Intervention effects were assessed by comparing pre-post changes in BMI, body composition, fitness scores, screen time, and cognitive variables related to screening viewing behaviours.

RESULTS: "Pause-2-Play" was perceived as a useful, fun program with numerous benefits including: children trying new snacks, feeling fitter and better about one's own body shape, and becoming more aware of a healthy lifestyle. The intervention resulted in a statistically significant reduction in percent body fat and an increase in fat-free mass index in overweight children; a decrease in waist circumference and an increase in fat-free mass index were observed in normal weight children. The intervention also statistically improved fitness scores in both normal weight and overweight children.

CONCLUSIONS: "Pause-2-Play" was feasible, practical, and favourably changed body composition and fitness level.

Key words: Obesity, Students, Behaviour

RESUMO

OBJETIVOS: "Pause-2-Play" é um programa de prevenção da obesidade direcionado aos comportamentos sedentários relacionados ao uso de monitores de computador e televisores, visando promover a atividade física entre estudantes de escolas de educação básica. O programa trata-se de um currículo de modificação comportamental e um programa extracurricular de promoção de saúde. Este estudo-piloto relata sobre a viabilidade, praticidade e impacto do programa.

MÉTODOS: o programa de doze semanas foi implementado com 32 alunos escolares do quinto e sexto grau. A viabilidade e a praticidade do programa foram avaliadas a partir de uma abordagem qualitativa. Os efeitos da intervenção foram avaliados por meio de comparação de mudanças de IMC pré e pós, composição corporal, escores de capacidade física, tempo passado diante um monitor ou televisor, e variáveis cognitivos relacionados aos comportamentos que envolvem o uso de monitor ou televisor.

RESULTADOS: percebeu-se que "Pause-2-Play" foi um programa útil e lúdico cujos vários benefícios incluíam: o fato das crianças ter experimentado novos alimentos, uma sensação de melhor forma física e uma auto-imagem da forma do corpo mais positiva, e uma conscientização aumentada em relação a estilos de vida saudáveis. A intervenção resultou numa redução estatisticamente significativa na porcentagem de gordura corporal e um aumento no índice de massa livre de gordura em crianças portadoras de sobrepeso; um decréscimo na circunferência da cintura e um aumento no índice de massa livre de gordura foram observados em crianças eutróficas. Além disso, a intervenção levou a uma melhoria nos escores de capacidade física tanto entre as crianças eutróficas como entre as portadoras de sobrepeso.

CONCLUSÕES: "Pause-2-Play" mostrou se viável e praticável e mudou a composição corporal e os níveis de capacidade física de forma favorável.

Palavras-chave: Obesidade, Estudantes, Comportamento

Introduction

Childhood obesity is a preventable precursor of adverse health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes, acute coronary episodes, asthma, and a host of psychological disorders.^1-3 The total direct health care cost of physical inactivity and obesity in Canada in 1999 was calculated at $2.1 billion.⁴ It follows that an increase in the prevalence of obesity will result in increased costs to the Canadian health care system. The high prevalence of childhood obesity coupled with the health consequences and heavy economic burden warrant research to create and evaluate interventions aimed at decreasing the prevalence of obesity in Canadian children and young people.

Sedentary behaviour is one of the major factors contributing to childhood obesity. Extensive television (TV) viewing and computer use have been consistently associated with overweight and obesity in North American children.^5-10 Reducing children's screen time and increasing physical activity offers a promising opportunity to prevent obesity. Recent trials have shown that restricting TV viewing time is effective in decreasing children's adiposity and Body Mass Index (BMI).^11-13 Currently, minimal information pertaining to interventions aimed at reducing screen-related sedentary behaviours is available for Canadian settings. It is imperative that effective obesity intervention strategies targeting sedentary behaviours be developed in a Canadian context.

The objective of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and assess the impact of a school-based obesity prevention program, "Pause-2-Play," that aimed to reduce screen time and increase physical activity levels among Canadian children in grades five and six.

Methods

This pilot program used a pre-post design and targeted all grade five and six students in a single elementary school in a low-income neighbourhood in London, Ontario, Canada. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Western Ontario.

Informed written parental consent and child assent were obtained from 35 out of 70 students (50%). Among these, 32 completed the study (82%). The subjects' baseline characteristics are described in Table 1. Forty-nine percent of the subjects had a BMI above the 85th percentile and were thus considered overweight or obese (Table 1). For family demographic information, data were only available for 19 out of 32 parents who returned a brief demographic questionnaire. Of the responding participants, 79% of children came from two-parent families; 74% of parents had at least some college or university education and 63% were employed full time. Additionally, 40% of the children were white, while a further 42% were either Arab or Asian, and 37% of families had a family income below the poverty line ($39,000 a year for a family of four in 2007).¹⁴

Staff and parents were invited to participate in focus groups upon the completion of the program. Informed written consent was also obtained prior to data collection.

"Pause-2-Play" was a 12 week intervention consisting of a Behavioural Modification Curriculum (BMC) and Health Promoting Afterschool Program (HPAS). The BMC was adapted from an existing effective school program, called "Switch-Play," in Australia.¹⁵ This six-lesson curriculum focuses on raising awareness, monitoring sedentary behaviour, and setting goals for a more active lifestyle. This curriculum was implemented by teachers in the classroom. The HPAS program was delivered three times per week throughout the intervention and was free of charge to participants. This component was adapted from the MCG FitKid Program in Georgia, USA.^16,17 The HPAS aimed at reducing children's exposure to screens and increasing physical activity opportunities by utilizing school playgrounds and gyms during a twohour block after-school. Each session lasted 120 minutes. The first 40 minutes were used for participants to have a healthy snack and to participate in the academic enrichment activities with assistance from an on-going Homework Club delivered by university student volunteers. Of the 80 minutes available for physical activities, about 25 minutes were devoted to warm-up and skill instruction in a variety of activities. The next 40 minutes involved the types of vigorous aerobic activities appropriate for children this age; the exercise was performed in intermittent bouts of varying intensity. The final 15 minutes involved strength and flexibility exercises. The physical activity component was delivered by trained Pause-2-Play program staff.

The implementation process was monitored by subjects' attendance of the after-school program. The feasibility of the intervention was assessed using qualitative research methods. Two separate focus groups were conducted with parents of participants and participants themselves, respectively. Two indepth interviews were conducted with teachers involved in teaching the curriculum and one with the school principal. To avoid potential bias, two external facilitators were hired to conduct the focus groups and interviews. The focus groups were recorded and all participants were informed of the recording prior to the start of the session. Each focus group lasted approximately one hour, and they were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The staff interviews were audio recorded but not transcribed: notes were taken by the moderator and co-moderator during the interviews.

Outcome measures included Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, body composition, fitness level, screen-viewing/use behaviours, children's enjoyment, attitude and self-efficacy related to screen-viewing/use behaviours. Data were collected by trained program staff at baseline and upon completion of the 12 week program.

Children's weights and heights were measured according to a standardized procedure and BMI (kg/m²) was calculated. Children's waist circumference was measured at the midway point between the iliac crests and the lower ribs, when the subject was standing erect with feet together. Body composition was assessed using bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA, TANITA Body Composition Analyzer, TBF- 410, Japan). Subjects were asked to void before the measurement. Measurements were taken twice and an average of the two values was calculated. Fat-free Mass Index [FFM (kg)/height (m)²] was calculated.¹⁸ A 20-Meter Shuttle Run Test (20-MSR) was used to measure fitness levels utilizing a standard protocol. The same personnel conducted the test to minimize random errors.

Screen-viewing behaviours were measured using the Child Sedentary Behaviour Questionnaire (CSBQ).¹⁹ Children reported the usual time spent watching TV, using the computer and playing electronic games on weekdays and weekends. Children's enjoyment of and attitude towards screen-viewing behaviours and self-efficacy for spending less time in screen-related activities were measured using a validated instrument by Norman et al.²⁰ To assess unintended adverse body image-related consequences from the intervention, we adopted a short instrument from the Switch-Play study.²¹ The questionnaire was administered in the classroom under the instruction of trained program staff.

A short questionnaire to assess sociodemographics was sent home to be filled out by parents or guardians at the end of the program.

All quantitative data were entered into SPSS Version 16. The BMI percentile and BMI Z-score were calculated using Epi-Info software developed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The Generalized Linear Model (GLM) Repeated Measures Model was used to compare pre-post changes in BMI Z-score, percent body fat, and fatfree mass index, adjusted for program attendance rate. Paired t- tests were used to determine pre-post changes in fitness score, screen time, attitude and enjoyment with regard to screen use, self-efficacy in reducing screen time, as well as body image scores.

Qualitative data were analyzed using a combination of the editing and template organizing styles outlined by Miller and Crabtree.²² Several techniques were used to promote the trustworthiness and credibility of the findings. To ensure credibility, member checking (a process of verifying the findings) was completed at the end of each interview to confirm that the interviewer correctly understood the participant's responses. To ensure confirmability, two researchers performed inductive content analysis independently and simultaneously. They also met to combine and compare their independent analyses. As the analysis proceeded, a coding template evolved that allowed for the expansion of key themes; this was assisted by the computer software package QSR Nvivo (QSR Nvivo 2, released in 2002 by QSR International, Victoria, Australia). A summary of the analysis was prepared and reviewed by a third team member who independently read all the transcripts and debriefed the interviewers.

Results

Eleven children participated in two focus group discussions. "Pause-2-Play" was perceived by participants as a good, fun program that provided them the opportunity to play, do homework, try healthy snacks, meet new friends, and receive mentorship. Children's perceived benefits for participating in "Pause-2-Play" included, but were not limited to, trying new snacks, feeling fitter, feeling better about one's own body image, becoming more aware of a healthy-lifestyle, improving skills, developing an aptitude for certain sports, and providing a way to receive homework help. Participants enjoyed "Pause-2-Play" and felt sad when "Pause-2-Play" ended, but also provided feedback for further improvement of the program. Suggestions included more fun and more variety in homework, a greater variety of physical activities, going outside whenever weather allowed, and being more sensitive to food restrictions when offering healthy snacks (Table 2).

Thirteen parents participated in the focus group discussions. All parent focus group participants perceived "Pause-2-Play" as a good program that integrated three key components of their children's well-being: healthy eating, homework assistance, and active living. They saw the need for such a program, especially during winter and inclement weather, when parents were not at home and children had no place to go after school. Parents also perceived the program as an excellent social opportunity for children to develop much needed interpersonal skills.

Parents perceived many benefits of their children being in the program. They remarked that "Pause-2-Play" not only increased physical activity levels and decreased screen time, but it also increased awareness regarding a healthy lifestyle, increased confidence, heightened self-esteem, positively changed eating behaviours, improved academic performance, helped children establish healthy routines (eating healthy snacks, doing homework and actively playing), brought about favourable changes in body shape, and reduced body weight. Furthermore, parents noticed that children in the "Pause-2-Play" program became role models for their younger siblings in terms of healthy eating and physical activity, as well as positively influencing healthier choices made by the entire family. Parents also identified a few challenges such as the lack of a school bus program after the HPAS. They suggested that the program be extended beyond 12-weeks and that the program should also be offered to other school-aged children.

It appears that some parents were not aware of the 6-lesson "Pause-2-Play" BMC delivered by classroom teachers and were not fully engaged in helping their children reduce screen time at home (Table 3).

The school principal and teachers remarked that "Pause-2-Play" was a needed program that uses after-school time to help students develop academically and physically. School staff members were very supportive of the program and would like to see "Pause-2-Play" expanded to more schools. Staff believed that the curriculum itself was welldesigned, adequately described in the training manual, and aligned well with the objectives of the Ontario curriculum that they already teach.

Teachers identified two significant areas for improvement in implementing the program at an elementary school. It was suggested that there needed to be more clear communication between program staff and school staff to increase the efficiency with which the BMC could be incorporated. The second concern was that teaching the BMC was difficult given their already busy schedules. It was suggested that the responsibility for teaching the six lesson BMC could be undertaken by "Pause-2-Play" staff during the homework club (Table 4).

The pre-post intervention changes in BMI, waist circumference and body composition are presented in Table 5. For overweight and obese subjects, the intervention resulted in a reduction in percent body fat (2.9%, p<0.05) and an increase in fat-free mass index (0.8 kg/m², p<0.05); however, there was no statistically significant decline in BMI Z-scores. For normal weight subjects, the intervention resulted in 1.7 cm decrease in waist circumference (p<0.05). The intervention improved fitness scores by 2 laps (p<0.05), but decreased self-efficacy scores by 1.8 units (p<0.05) (Table 6).

Discussion

The objective of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a school-based intervention incorporating a BMC and an after-school program aimed at reducing screen-related behaviours among elementary school children. The results indicated that the program was feasible and well received by children, parents, and school staff. The program has favourably changed children's fitness levels and body composition. The limitations and challenges that arose during the course of this pilot project provide valuable insights for future program modification and implementation.

School administration and teachers were key to ensuring the successful implementation of "Pause-2- Play". In the current study, school staff were accommodating during both data collection phases and intervention implementation. Teachers' liaising with "Pause-2-Play" staff ensured that participants received the optimal benefits of the homework club. Teachers took on the responsibility for providing the in-class curriculum to students. The "Pause-2-Play" curriculum is aligned with the objectives of the Ontario curriculum, and thus it appeared to be practical to incorporate the six lessons; however, the inclass curriculum was not incorporated equally across all classes nor fully delivered as planned. This inconsistent implementation might have limited the impact of the program on children's enjoyment of and attitude towards screen-viewing behaviours, or their actual screen behaviours. We recommend that future "Pause-2-Play" implementation could adopt one of these two strategies: if teachers are to teach the curriculum, "Pause-2-Play" staff must ensure that the commitment required is discussed in advance, ensuring that teachers have sufficient time to incorporate the "Pause-2-Play" curriculum into their lesson plans. It is also vital that all teachers allocate a similar amount of time and energy to the curriculum. The second potential strategy is to remove the burden from the teachers and allocate program staff to deliver the curriculum one day per week for the first six weeks of the after-school program.

Successful implementation of "Pause-2-Play" also hinged upon participants' engagement and enjoyment of the program. Student participants in the current study perceived "Pause-2-Play" to be an enjoyable, fun program. Parents echoed this sentiment, suggesting that their children enjoyed attending the program. Recruiting and retaining participants is a critical issue so far as feasibility is concerned: if participants do not enjoy the program, they may withdraw. It was evident that "Pause-2- Play" was well received by both children and their parents because of the relatively high retention rate - which was 82%. Children's suggestions, such as having more fun and more variety in the homework club, a greater variety of physical activities, going outside when weather permitted, and being more sensitive to food restrictions when offering healthy snacks, should be incorporated into future "Pause-2- Play" implementation.

It is encouraging that this 12-week intervention has achieved improvements in body composition and fitness levels comparable to studies of notably longer duration. The MCG FitKid Program decreased body fat percentage measures by less than one percent in each of the first two years of the program.¹⁶ The improvement in fitness is important for both normal weight and overweight children, given that three out of five Canadian youth are not active enough to achieve health benefits and 26% are overweight or obese.²³ The "Pause-2-Play" intervention provided an environmental opportunity that encouraged moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, which is necessary for improved health. Such opportunities are extremely important for children from low SES families, as they are at a great risk of being overweight or obese²⁴ and their parents are less able to afford sports or recreational programs.

It is unclear why children's self-efficacy with regard to spending less time on screen-related activities decreased at the end of the intervention. In the Switch-Play study, children in the behavioural modification intervention reported spending more time on screen-related activities than those in the control group. Salmon et al.²¹ speculated that the intervention may have increased children's awareness of and engagement with the targeted behaviour, which was an undesirable outcome. They also suspected that it may be due to the 'response shift bias'.^21,25 Response shift bias refers to a phenomenon of learning effects, in which participants may know little about a behaviour before the intervention and learn about it as a result of the intervention. A baseline measure may thus be subject to substantial error and a favourable shift in the accuracy of reporting may occur at the end of the intervention.^21,25 The decline in self-efficacy in the current study may be a result of an undesired outcome or "response shift bias". Nonetheless, further attention and investigation are required to avoid potential undesired outcomes when implementing behavioural modification curricula targeting screen-related sedentary behaviours.

There were a number of limitations to this pilot study. For instance, a one-sample pre-post design was used in evaluating the impacts of the program. Although such a design is considered suitable for a pilot study, it may have compromised internal validity. The sample size was relatively small which may decrease statistical power in evaluating program impacts. Future large-scale implementation and evaluation of "Pause-2-Play" should use a randomized controlled trial design with sufficient sample size.

"Pause-2-Play" was well received by children, parents, and school staff. The program was feasible, practical, and favourably changed body composition and fitness levels. After-school obesity prevention programs for children represent one potentially viable solution in the battle against childhood obesity in Canada.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Jo Salmon, lead investigator of the Switch-Play Study, Australia, and Dr. Zenong Yin, lead investigator of the MCG FitKid study, USA, for providing support and for sharing their experience and intervention resources. The authors are grateful to Ms. Charlene Beynon, Director of the Public Health Research Education and Development Program, Middlesex-London Health Unit, Ms. Donnafaye Milton, Brescia Outreach Coordinator, Mr. Dan Lavery, Principal of the participating school, and Brescia University College student volunteers for their support and involvement throughout the project. Special thanks are also extended to school staff as well as the student participants and their parents for making this project possible.

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Recebido em 19 de julho 2010

Aprovado em 12 de agosto de 2010

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  08 Oct 2010
• Date of issue
  Sept 2010

History

• Received
  19 July 2010
• Accepted
  12 Aug 2010