Academic Performance; Primary Prevention; Physical Activity Clinical Trial
— ASKOfficial title:
Active Smarter Kids: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effect of Daily Physical Activity on Children's Academic Performance and on Risk Factors for Lifestyle-related Non-communicable Diseases
| Verified date | October 2019 |
| Source | Western Norway University of Applied Sciences |
| Contact | n/a |
| Is FDA regulated | No |
| Health authority | |
| Study type | Interventional |
The relationship between physical activity and academic performance has received widespread
attention owing to the pressure on schools to graduate pupils who meet accepted academic
standards. As important, there are global concerns regarding the increased prevalence of
lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). First, Norway has a history of mediocre
scores on international comparative academic performance tests such as Trends in
International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Programme for International
Student Assessment (PISA) [1]. It is therefore important to develop and evaluate strategic
programs that may enhance pupil's academic performance. It is increasingly evident that a
physical activity strategy that brings about enhanced cognitive function, better blood flow,
and more, plays a key role in this effort [2]. Second, the prevalence of NCDs, such as
diabetes mellitus type 2, is increasing worldwide, and such NCDs affect people of all ages
[3]. Hence, healthcare costs are escalating to unaffordable levels. The best means to deal
with this immense problem is through primary prevention, and physical activity is a powerful
common denominator known to play a key role in preventing a host of NCDs [4].
Consequently, both World Health Organization (WHO) and the Norwegian health authorities call
for effective primary prevention strategies to promote physical activity in children and
adolescents [5, 6]. Prop. 90 L (2010-2011) Act on public health work [6] emphasizes that
physical activity in school can benefit both the learning process and public health
prevention.
Therefore, the objective of the ASK-study is to investigate the effects on academic
performance of 60 minutes of daily physical activity during one school year. Furthermore, due
to the complexity in the relationship between physical activity and academic performance, it
is necessary to identify possible mediating and moderating variables as cognitive
performance, quality of life (QoL), classroom behavior, motor skills and motivation. Also, we
aim to investigate changes in risk factors related to NCDs and factors that influence NSDs,
such as physical activity, sedentary behavior and health-related fitness.
In addition a qualitative part of the ASK-Study will be conducted to get an in-depth
understanding of the children's embodied experiences and the meaning of the social learning
culture in school physical activity (PA). This will give us an in-depth description of the
intervention context, offer insight in how the intervention possibly influences children's
overall development and enables us to estimate potential long term effects of the
intervention.
If successful, the ASK cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) could provide much needed
solutions to enhancing schoolchildren's academic performance and position the school as an
effective setting for a massive public health intervention concerning the prevention of NCDs.
| Status | Completed |
| Enrollment | 1202 |
| Est. completion date | June 2015 |
| Est. primary completion date | June 2015 |
| Accepts healthy volunteers | No |
| Gender | All |
| Age group | 8 Years to 11 Years |
| Eligibility |
Inclusion Criteria: - all children attending 5th grade at the invited schools in Sogn og Fjordane county (Norway) during the school-year 2014/2015 Exclusion Criteria: - those children whom for language barriers are unable to perform national tests in Numeracy, Norwegian and English |
| Country | Name | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | Sogn og Fjordane University College | Sogndal | Sogn Og Fjordane |
| Lead Sponsor | Collaborator |
|---|---|
| Western Norway University of Applied Sciences | The Research Council of Norway |
Norway,
1. Kjærnsli, M., Tid for tunge løft: norske elevers kompetanse i naturfag, lesing og matematikk i PISA 2006. 2007, Oslo: Universitetsforl.
3. WHO, World Health Organization. Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: implementation of the global strategy. 2008, WHO: Geneva.
4. WHO, World Health Organization [cited 2013 15.08]; Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/disease-prevention/physical-activity/facts-and-figures/10-key-facts-on-physical-activity-in-the-who-european-region. 2011, WHO.
5. WHO, World Health Organization. Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. 57th World Health Assembly. 2004, WHO: Geneva.
6. PttSL, (2010-2011) Act on public health work.Lov om Folkehelsearbeid. 2010
Singh A, Uijtdewilligen L, Twisk JW, van Mechelen W, Chinapaw MJ. Physical activity and performance at school: a systematic review of the literature including a methodological quality assessment. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012 Jan;166(1):49-55. doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.716. Review. — View Citation
| Type | Measure | Description | Time frame | Safety issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | Quality of life and well-being | We will measure self-reported physical well-being, psychological well-being, autonomy & parent relation, social support & peers and school environment. | August 2014 - June 2015 (10 months) | |
| Primary | Academic performance | Academic performance will be measured by Norwegian "national tests" in Numeracy, Norwegian and English | October 2014 - June 2015 (8 months) | |
| Secondary | Risk factors for lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) | We will measure physical activity, sedentary behavior, health-related physical fitness, measures of adiposity, blood pressure and biomarkers for metabolic health | August 2014 - June 2015 (10 months) | |
| Secondary | Executive functions | Inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility will be assessed by pen-and-paper testing | August 2014 - June 2015 (10 months) | |
| Secondary | Qualitative study of embodied experiences and interpersonal relations | Qualitative methods will be used to explore how children act in the context of physical education and the ASK-intervention, and how their experiences are constructed in the interaction between individual and social factors. We will also explore to what extent children are capable to reflect over their bodily and social experiences. | August 2014 - June 2015 (10 months) |