Effect of Extra-curricular Sports Activities After School on Primary School Children's Academic Performance

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Extra-curricular Sports
• Interventions: Behavioral: Extra-curricular sports

• Registration Number: NCT04587765
• Lead Sponsor: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University

Brief Summary

The process of urbanization and the rapid development of information technology have greatly reduced the space and time available for children's outdoor activities. In this study, we expect to study the effects of the addition of physical education classes after school on the academic performance, mental health, physical fitness, and myopia among primary school children.

Detailed Description

Urbanization has led to a shrinking of the space suitable for residential activities and a dramatic change in the behavioural patterns, which is particularly evident in children. The spread and development of information technology has reduced children's time for physical activity. Previous studies have found that physical activity is essential for the growth and development of adolescents, preventing and reducing obesity, slowing the development of myopia, and is closely linked to mental health. However, parents in China are concerned that increased outdoor activity will reduce the amount of time spent studying and affect academic performance. Currently, there is a lack of strong evidence on the impact of physical activity on academic performance. In this study, we propose to provide after-school physical education classes for students in primary schools in a rapidly urbanizing area, and assess the effects of the intervention on children's academic performance, physical fitness, myopia, and mental health to provide evidence for the development of educational programs and arrangements for after-school activities.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-10-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-10-07
• Study Start: 2020-10-14
• Study First Posted: 2020-10-14
• Primary Completion: 2021-11-20
• Study Completion: 2021-12-31
• Status Verified: 2022-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-04-23
• Last Update Posted: 2022-04-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2032

Inclusion Criteria

1. Pupils in the third and fourth grades of primary schools in Yudu County;
2. Voluntary participation in this study with consent and informed consent signed by guardians.

Exclusion Criteria

• Exclusion criteria for school

  1. Lack of a third or fourth grade;
  2. Average class size less than 30 students;
  3. No conditions for two classes to play sports at the same time.

• Exclusion criteria for students 4. Two or more days Monday to Friday not available to participate in studies under the project programme; 5. Unsuitability for health or physical reasons to participate in sports activities; 6. Refusal to sign informed consent.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Extra sports group	Extra-curricular sports	The group follows the schedule of school teaching programme. Extra-curricular sports classes will be organized and provided in this group of schools in the afternoon after school until 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mathematics test scores at the end of the first academic year	1 year	The test paper will follow the design principles of International Mathematics and science learning, and referring to the local unified examination papers of grade three and grade four, the unified examination questions are formulated to evaluate the students' learning in school

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Combined physical fitness test score at the end of the first academic year	1 year	Total scores of physical fitness tests according to 2018 National Physical Fitness Survey Monitoring Programme
Mathematics test scores at the end of the second school year	up to 2 years	The test paper will follow the design principles of International Mathematics and science learning, and referring to the local unified examination papers of grade three and grade four, the unified examination questions are formulated to evaluate the students' learning in school
Happiness assessment at the second school year	up to 2 years	Happiness score is rated by Chinese (September, 2007) version of the WHO-5 including 5 items with ratings: 0, at no time-5, all of the time. The total raw score, ranging from 0 to 25, is multiplied by 4 to give the final score, with 0 representing the worst imaginable well-being and 100 representing the best imaginable well-being
Satisfaction assessment	1 year	Satisfaction of pupils in the intervention group with the addition of PE after school will be measured by a questionnaire which is designed by reaserchers.
Incidence of myopia in the first school year	1 year	Spherical equivalent after mydriasis ≤ -0.5 D in either eye
Happiness Assessment at the end of the first academic year	1 year	Happiness score is rated by Chinese version of the WHO-5 including 5 items with ratings: 0, at no time-5, all of the time. The total raw score, ranging from 0 to 25, is multiplied by 4 to give the final score, with 0 representing the worst imaginable well-being and 100 representing the best imaginable well-being
Combined physical fitness test scores at the end of the second academic year	up to 2 years	Total scores of physical fitness tests according to 2018 National Physical Fitness Survey Monitoring Programme
Cumulative incidence of myopia over two school years	up to 2 years	Spherical equivalent after mydriasis ≤ -0.5 D in either eye

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Yudu; 🇨🇳 Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China