open access publication

Article, 2024

Study protocol for the ACTIVE SCHOOL study investigating two different strategies of physical activity to improve academic performance in Schoolchildren

BMC Pediatrics, ISSN 1471-2431, Volume 24, 1, Page 174, 10.1186/s12887-024-04647-9

Contributors

Jeppesen, Lise Sohl (Corresponding author) [1] [2] Damsgaard, Linn 0000-0001-6705-1142 [1] Stolpe, Malene Norup [1] Melcher, Jesper Ninn Sandfeld 0009-0005-8080-9364 [1] Wienecke, Jacob 0000-0001-9786-4689 [2] Nielsen, Glen 0000-0003-2854-7182 [2] Smedegaard, Søren 0000-0002-5451-9743 [3] Henriksen, Anne Husted 0000-0003-4017-4729 [2] Hansen, Rasmus Ahmt [2] Hillman, Charles H 0000-0002-3722-5612 [4] Tammelin, Tuija Heini 0000-0002-1771-3977 [5] Resaland, Geir Kåre 0000-0001-7562-0552 [6] Daly-Smith, Andrew J [7] Bugge, Anna 0000-0002-8345-1434 [1]

Affiliations

  1. [1] University College Copenhagen
    2. [NORA names: KP University College Copenhagen; College; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  2. [2] University of Copenhagen
    3. [NORA names: KU University of Copenhagen; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  3. [3] University College Lillebaelt
    4. [NORA names: UCL University College; College; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  4. [4] Northeastern University
    5. [NORA names: United States; America, North; OECD];
  5. [5] JAMK University of Applied Sciences
    6. [NORA names: Finland; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious research has suggested that school-based physical activity (PA) interventions may have a positive impact on academic performance. However, existing literature on school-based interventions encompasses various forms of PA, spanning from vigorous intensity PA outside the academic classes to light intensity PA and movement integrated into academic learning tasks, and results on academic performance are inconclusive. ACTIVE SCHOOL will implement two different PA interventions for one school year and assess the effects on the pupils’ academic performance, with math performance as the primary outcome.Methods/designThe ACTIVE SCHOOL project consists of two phases: 1) Development phase and 2) Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). In phase one, two interventions were developed in collaboration with school staff. The two interventions were tested in an 8-weeks feasibility study. In phase two, a RCT-study with three arms will be conducted in 9-10-year-old children for one school year. The RCT-study will be carried out in two intervention rounds during the school years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025. Schools will be randomized to one of two interventions or control;1) Run, Jump & Fun intervention (4 × 30 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; 2) Move & Learn intervention (4 × 30 min/week focusing on embodied learning in math and Danish lessons); or 3) a control condition, consisting of normal teaching practices. Outcome measures include academic performance, PA level, cognitive functions, cardiorespiratory fitness, anthropometry, well-being and school motivation (collected before, during and after the intervention period). A process evaluation will be conducted to assess implementation.DiscussionThe ACTIVE SCHOOL study will expand knowledge regarding the impact of PA on academic performance. The study will have the potential to significantly contribute to future research, as well as the scientific and educational debate on the best way to implement PA to support education and learning.Trial registrationThe study was registered on the 25th of October 2022 in ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05602948.

Keywords

BackgroundPrevious research, DiscussionThe, PA interventions, PA levels, RCT studies, Trial registrationThe study, academic learning tasks, academic performance, active school, activity, anthropometry, assessment implementation, cardiorespiratory fitness, children, cognitive function, collaboration, conditions, control, control condition, controlled trials, debates, development, development phase, education, educational debate, effect, evaluation, feasibility study, fitness, function, impact, impact of PA, implementation, implemented PA, improve academic performance, intensity PA, intervention, intervention rounds, knowledge, learning, learning intervention, learning tasks, levels, light-intensity PA, literature, math, math performance, measurements, motivation, movement, normal teaching practices, outcome measures, outcomes, performance, phase, physical activity, positive impact, potential, practice, primary outcome, process, process evaluation, project, protocol, pupils, pupil’s academic performance, randomization, randomized controlled trials, registrationThe study, research, round, school, school motivation, school projects, school staff, school studies, school year, school-based interventions, school-based physical activity, schoolchildren, staff, strategies, study, study protocol, support education, task, teaching practices, trials, vigorous intensity PA, well-being, years

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