Developing and Feasibility Testing the Youth - Physical Activity Towards Health Intervention in Post-primary Schools in Northern Ireland
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Physical Inactivity
- Sponsor
- University of Ulster
- Enrollment
- 400
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- The feasibility of recruiting pupils to take part in the study
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- last year
Overview
Brief Summary
The Y-PATH programme is an evidence-based intervention programme that has been found to be successful at increasing levels of physical activity in school children in the Republic of Ireland. The Irish Heart Foundation collaborated with Dublin City University and University College Cork to disseminate the programme nationally. The intervention programme aims to improve physical activity levels of adolescents through education about the importance of physical activity for health and the development of fundamental movement skills, which are basic movements associated with physical activity, such as, catching, throwing, and running. The main aims of the Y-PATH NI study are:
- To explore Y-PATH as an intervention 'template', to lead the development of a research-informed model suitable for feasibility testing in a Northern Ireland context (Y-PATH NI).
- To undertake feasibility testing of the Y-PATH NI multi-component intervention aimed at increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 11-14 year olds.
- To conduct a process evaluation to determine primarily fidelity, but also acceptance and sustainability of the Y-PATH NI intervention.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Post-primary schools in NI with at least one Year 8 class group commencing in the academic year 2023 will be eligible to take part in the study.
- •Schools must have a minimum of one PE period/week timetabled for incoming Year 8 pupils,
- •have an indoor sports hall (to facilitate intervention delivery)
- •employ a qualified PE teacher (with at least 1 years' experience) to teach PE to the Year 8 class group.
- •All pupils (male and female) in the Year 8 classes identified by the school, who can take part in PE classes, will be eligible to participate in the study.
- •Male and female school staff
- •PE specialist teachers (with at least 1 years' experience)
- •Staff need to be over 18 years old.
- •Parents/Guardians
- •Male and female parents/guardians
Exclusion Criteria
- •Primary schools
- •Schools which do not provided a minimum of one PE period/week timetabled for incoming Year 8 pupils,
- •Schools without an indoor sports hall (to facilitate intervention delivery)
- •Schools that do not employ a qualified PE teacher (with at least 1 years' experience) to teach PE to the Year 8 class group.
- •Pupils in Year 9 and above
- •Pupils who do not take part in PE class (determined by the school)
- •Teachers not involved with the Y-PATH NI intervention
- •Parents/Guardians
- •Not having at least one child who participated in the Y-PATH NI intervention
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
The feasibility of recruiting pupils to take part in the study
Time Frame: During recruitment phase, 1-2 months
The research team will record the number of pupils who are invited to take part in each of the schools and the number of pupils who are recruited.
The feasibility of delivering Y-PATH NI in schools
Time Frame: Mid-point and end of study, up to 11 months in total
Ability to deliver the intervention per protocol within schools. An intervention fidelity checklist will be completed as part of the process evaluation that will be carried out. The following questions will be included, Were all six Health related activity lesson plans delivered? Did teachers use the digital resources? Did teachers use the resource cards?
Acceptability of the Y-PATH NI Intervention to the pupils - self-report measure
Time Frame: Completed at the mid-point of the study (approximately 3-4 months after baseline)
Pupils who are allocated to the intervention group will complete a self-report evaluation questionnaire which will ask for their opinions on the study (i.e. whether they enjoyed the study and if they were satisfied with the various components of the study). The scales will range from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5).
The feasibility of recruiting schools/teachers to take part in the study
Time Frame: During recruitment phase, 1-2 months
Ability to recruit schools/teachers to take part in the study. The research team will record the number of schools invited to take part and the number of schools who agree to participate in the study.
The feasibility of training the teachers
Time Frame: After baseline assessments have been completed, up to 2 months
The number of teachers trained will be recorded and teachers complete an evaluation questionnaire to share their opinions on the training.
Acceptability of the Y-PATH NI Intervention to parents/guardians
Time Frame: Completed at the end of the study, up to 11 months after baseline.
Parents of pupils who participated in the Y-PATH NI intervention will be invited to take part in an interview at the end of the study to gather their views on the Y-PATH NI intervention.
Acceptability of the Y-PATH NI Intervention to the pupils - focus groups
Time Frame: Completed at the mid-point of the study (approximately 3-4 months after baseline)
A sub-sample of pupils will participate in focus groups. The focus group would include 5-8 pupils and will aim to gather views and opinions on the Y-PATH NI intervention. A topic guide has been created for this focus group
Acceptability of the Y-PATH NI Intervention to the teachers
Time Frame: Completed at the mid-point of the study (approximately 3-4 months after baseline)
Teachers will be asked to complete a questionnaire at the mid-point of the study which asks questions about the acceptability of the intervention. Higher scores will indicate greater acceptability.
Secondary Outcomes
- Body Mass Index(Measured at baseline, mid point (approximately 3- 4 months after baseline) and at the final follow up (up to 11 months after baseline measurement)
- Screen time(Measured at baseline, mid point (approximately 3- 4 months after baseline) and at the final follow up (up to 11 months after baseline measurement.)
- Physical self-confidence(Measured at baseline, mid point (approximately 3- 4 months after baseline) and at the final follow up (up to 11 months after baseline measurement)
- Behavioural Regulations in Exercise(Measured at baseline, mid point (approximately 3- 4 months after baseline) and at the final follow up (up to 11 months after baseline measurement)
- Proportion of participants meeting physical activity guidelines(Measured at baseline, mid point (approximately 3- 4 months after baseline) and at the final follow up (up to 11 months after baseline measurement)
- Enjoyment of physical education(Measured at baseline, mid point (approximately 3- 4 months after baseline) and at the final follow up (up to 11 months after baseline measurement)
- Time spent in total physical activity, light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behaviour(Measured at baseline, mid point (approximately 3- 4 months after baseline) and at the final follow up (up to 11 months after baseline measurement))
- Experiences of physical education(Measured at baseline, mid point (approximately 3- 4 months after baseline) and at the final follow up (up to 11 months after baseline measurement)
- Self-efficacy for exercise(Measured at baseline, mid point (approximately 3- 4 months after baseline) and at the final follow up (up to 11 months after baseline measurement)