Prescription of Exercise in Children

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Children; Exercise; Physical Activity; Screen Time

• Registration Number: NCT06765460
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves

Brief Summary

Most pediatric populations do not meet the physical activity (PA) recommendations set by international organizations. The effectiveness of casual PA advice provided during medical consultations has not been adequately assessed for its role in fostering this healthy habit. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of medical prescriptions for PA in increasing PA levels in children compared to standard health advice (HA), as well as measuring the effectiveness of these recommendations in reducing daily screen time (ST) in the pediatric population. A randomized controlled clinical trial with parallel groups was conducted, including 130 participants aged 6 to 14 years. Data on PA levels (duration and intensity), ST, and anthropometric measures were collected via questionnaire. Participants were divided into two groups: HA (3 minutes) and medical prescription of exercise \[MPE\] (10 minutes). PA levels were assessed at 3 and 12 months, with results recorded using the same questionnaire. A multivariate data analysis was performed. Further research is needed to develop effective and sustainable public health interventions to prevent long-term sedentary behavior in children.

Detailed Description

* Both HA and MPE interventions could effectively increase children's PA duration and intensity, resulting in a higher PA classification range.

* An inverse relationship may be identified between ST and PA, suggesting that reducing ST could encourage healthier habits in children.

* Pediatricians play a pivotal role in promoting lifestyle changes through brief yet targeted interventions, significantly influencing children's PA levels and reducing ST. These findings highlight the need for further research to optimize public health initiatives within pediatric care.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-02-01
• Primary Completion: 2024-03-01
• Study Completion: 2024-11-01
• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Study First Submitted: 2024-12-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-01-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-02
• Study First Posted: 2025-01-09
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 130

Inclusion Criteria

We included pediatric patients between 6 and 14 years of age who were part of two pediatric PC groups of an urban health centre in Granada (Spain) who attended a face-to-face consultation of any type.

Exclusion Criteria

chronic or complex pathology preventing moderate or intense physical activity or those who did not give consent

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Efectiveness of MPE and HA	from enrollment to 12 months	test whether brief HA and/or individualized MPE in PC increases physical activity levels in childhood.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas, 2, 18014, Granada; 🇪🇸 Granada, Spain