A cluster randomized trial of a multi-level intervention, delivered by service staff, to increase physical activity of children attending center-based childcare

Preventive Medicine

Volumn 58, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 9-16

  Finch, Meghan ^a,b   Wolfenden, Luke ^b   Morgan, Philip J ^c   Freund, Megan ^a,b,d   Jones, Jannah ^a   Wiggers, John ^a,b,d  

^a HUNTER NEW ENGLAND POPULATION HEALTH   (Australia)

^b UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE   (Australia)

^c UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE   (Australia)

^d HUNTER MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE   (Australia)

Author keywords

Child day care centers; Childcare; Physical activity; Preschool; Young children

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; CHILD; CHILD CARE; CONTROLLED STUDY; EDUCATIONAL MODEL; ENVIRONMENT; FEMALE; FOLLOW UP; HEALTH SERVICE; HUMAN; MALE; MEDICAL AUDIT; MEDICAL STAFF; MOVEMENT (PHYSIOLOGY); NORMAL HUMAN; OBSERVATION; PEDOMETER; PHYSICAL ACTIVITY; PRESCHOOL CHILD; PRIORITY JOURNAL; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL (TOPIC); RECREATION; SITTING; SKILL; TEACHER;

CHILD DAY-CARE CENTERS; CHILDCARE; PHYSICAL ACTIVITY; PRESCHOOL; YOUNG CHILDREN;

ACCELEROMETRY; BODY TEMPERATURE; CHILD DAY CARE CENTERS; CHILD, PRESCHOOL; CLUSTER ANALYSIS; DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE; FEMALE; HEALTH PROMOTION; HUMANS; MALE; MEDICAL STAFF; MOTOR ACTIVITY; NEW SOUTH WALES; PATIENT ACCEPTANCE OF HEALTH CARE; PROGRAM EVALUATION; TREATMENT OUTCOME;

EID: 84890200181     PISSN: 00917435     EISSN: 10960260     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.10.004     Document Type: Article

References (58)

1. Alhassan S., Sirard J.R., Robinson T.N. The effects of increasing outdoor play time on physical activity in Latino preschool children. Pediatr. Obes. 2007, 2:153-158.
2. Alhassan S., Nwaokelemeh O., Ghazarian M., Roberts J., Mendoza A., Shitole S. Effects of locomotor skill program on minority preschoolers' physical activity levels. Pediatr. Exerc. Sci. 2012, 24:435-449.
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics An introduction to SocioEconomic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Canberra 2006.
4. Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Australia - Data only, Cat no 2033 0 55 001 Available from: URL:, (Accessed 22 February 2010). http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/2033.0.55.0012006?OpenDocument.
5. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care National Physical Activity Recommendations for Children 0-5years (Accessed 8 July 2012. 2011). http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/CB94BC879F76C211CA2577AE007F78FC/$File/0-5yrACTIVE_Brochure_FA%20SCREEN.pdf.
6. Binkley T., Specker B. Increased periosteal circumference remains present 12months after an exercise intervention in preschool children. Bone 2004, 35:1383-1388.
7. Boldemann C., Blennow M., Dal H., et al. Impact of preschool environment upon children's physical activity and sun exposure. Prev. Med. 2006, 42:301-308.
8. Bower J.K., Hales D.P., Tate D.F., Rubin D.A., Benjamin S.E., Ward D.S. The childcare environment and children's physical activity. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2008, 34:23-29.
9. Burgi F., Meyer U., Granacher U., et al. Relationship of physical activity with motor skills, aerobic fitness and body fat in preschool children: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study (Ballabeina). Int. J. Obes. 2011, 35:937-944.
10. Cardon G., De Bourdeaudhuij I. Comparison of pedometer and accelerometer measures of physical activity in preschool children. Pediatr. Exerc. Sci. 2007, 19:205-214.
11. Cardon G., Labarque V., Smits D., De Bourdeaudhuij I. Promoting physical activity at the pre-school playground: the effects of providing markings and play equipment. Prev. Med. 2009, 48:335-340.
12. Cashmore A., Jones S. Growing up active: a study into physical activity in long day care centers. J. Res. Child. Educ. 2008, 23:179.
13. Cliff D., Okely A.D., Smith L.M., McKeen K. Relationships between fundamental movement skills and objectively measured physical activity in preschool children. Pediatr. Exerc. Sci. 2009, 21:436-449.
14. Colley R., Garriguet D., Adamo K., et al. Physical activity and sedentary behavior during the early years in Canada: a cross-sectional study. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 2013, 10:54.
15. Craig C.L., Tudor-Locke C., Cragg S.U.E., Cameron C. Process and treatment of pedometer data collection for youth: the Canadian physical activity levels among youth study. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2010, 42:430-435.
16. Dowda M., Brown W.H., McIver K.L., et al. Policies and characteristics of the preschool environment and physical activity of young children. Pediatrics 2009, 123:e261-e266.
17. Eliakim A., Nemet D., Balakirski Y., Epstein Y. The effects of nutritional-physical activity school-based intervention on fatness and fitness in preschool children. J. Pediatr. Endocrinol. Metab. 2007, 20:711-718.
18. Finch M., Wolfenden L., Morgan P.J., Freund M., Wyse R., Wiggers J. A cluster randomised trial to evaluate a physical activity intervention among 3-5year old children attending long day care services: study protocol. BMC Public Health 2010, 10:534.
19. Finch M., Wolfenden L., Falkiner M., et al. Impact of a population based intervention to increase the adoption of multiple physical activity practices in centre based childcare services: a quasi experimental, effectiveness study. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 2012, 9:101.
20. Fitzgibbon M.L., Stolley M., Schiffer L., et al. Hip-hop to health Jr. obesity prevention effectiveness trial: postintervention results. Obesity 2011, 19:994-1003.
21. Gubbels J., Kremers S., van Kann D., et al. Interaction between physical environment, social environment, and child characteristics in determining physical activity at child care. Health Psychol. 2011, 30:84-90.
22. Hardy L., King L., Kelly B., Farrell L., Howlett S. Munch and move: evaluation of a preschool healthy eating and movement skill program. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 2010, 7:80.
23. Janz K.F., Letuchy E.M., Eichenberger Gilmore J.M., et al. Early physical activity provides sustained bone health benefits later in childhood. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2010, 42:1072-1078.
24. Jones R.A., Riethmuller A., Hesketh K., Trezise J., Batterham M., Okely A.D. Promoting fundamental movement skill development and physical activity in early childhood settings: a cluster randomized controlled trial. Pediatr. Exerc. Sci. 2011, 23:600-615.
25. King A.C., Stokols D., Talen E., Brassington G.S., Killingsworth R. Theoretical approaches to the promotion of physical activity: forging a transdisciplinary paradigm. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2002, 23:15-25.
26. Kreichauf S., Krombholz H., Gibson E.L., et al. Critical narrative review to identify educational strategies promoting physical activity in preschool. Obes. Rev. 2012, 13:96-105.
27. Louie L., Chan L. The use of pedometry to evaluate the physical activity levels among preschool children in Hong Kong. Early Child Dev. Care 2003, 173:97-107.
28. McKee D.P., Boreham C., Murphy M., Nevill A.M. Validation of the Digiwalker(tm) pedometer for measuring physical activity in young children. Pediatr. Exerc. Sci. 2005, 17:345.
29. McNamara E., Hudson Z., Taylor S.J.C. Measuring activity levels of young people: the validity of pedometers. Br. Med. Bull. 2010, 95:121-137.
30. McWilliams C., Ball S.C., Benjamin S.E., Hales D., Vaughn A., Ward D.S. Best-practice guidelines for physical activity at child care. Pediatrics 2009, 124(6):1650-1659.
31. Metallinos-Katsaras E.S., Freedson P.S., Fulton J.E., Sherry B. The association between an objective measure of physical activity and weight status in preschoolers. Obesity 2007, 15:686-694.
32. Mitchell L., Cubey P. Characteristics of Professional Development Linked to Enhanced Pedagogy and Children's Learning in Early Childhood Settings: Best Evidence Synthesis 2003, New Zealand Council for Educational Research, Wellington. Ministry of Education (Ed.).
33. National Association for Sport and Physical Education Active Start: A Statement of Physical Activity Guidelines for Children Birth to Five Years 2002, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Reston, VA.
34. Okely A.D., Salmon J., Trost S.G., Hinkley T. Discussion Paper for the Development of Physical Activity Recommendations for Children Under Five Years 2008, Australian Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra.
35. Okely A.D., Trost S.G., Steele J.R., Cliff D.P., Mickle K. Adherence to physical activity and electronic media guidelines in Australian pre-school children. J. Paediatr. Child Health 2009, 45:5-8.
36. Oliver M., Schofield G.M., Kolt G.S. Physical activity in preschoolers: understanding prevalence and measurement issues. Sports Med. 2007, 37:1045-1070.
37. Oliver M., Schofield G.M., Kolt G.S., Schluter P.J. Pedometer accuracy in physical activity assessment of preschool children. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2007, 10:303-310.
38. Pate R.P., Ward D.S., Saunders R.P., Felton G. Promotion of physical activity among high-school girls: a randomized controlled trial. Am. J. Public Health 2005, 95:1582.
39. Pate R.R., O'Neill J.R., Mitchell J. Measurement of physical activity in preschool children. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2010, 42(3):508-512.
40. Raustorp A., Pagels P., Boldemann C., N, C., Söderström M., Mårtensson F. Accelerometer measured level of physical activity indoors and outdoors during preschool time in Sweden and the United States. J. Phys. Act. Health 2012, 9:801-808.
41. Reilly J.J., Kelly L., Montgomery C., et al. Physical activity to prevent obesity in young children: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2006, 333:1041.
42. Reilly J.J., Penpraze V., Hislop J., Davies G., Grant S., Paton J.Y. Objective measurement of physical activity and sedentary behaviour: review with new data. Arch. Dis. Child. 2008, 93:614-619.
43. Sallis J.F., Nader P.R., Broyles S.L., et al. Correlates of physical activity at home in Mexican-American and Anglo-American preschool children. Health Psychol. 1993, 12:390-398.
44. Specker B., Binkley T. Randomized trial of physical activity and calcium supplementation on bone mineral content in 3 to 5year old children. J. Bone Miner. Res. 2003, 18:885-892.
45. Stokols D. Establishing and maintaining healthy environments: toward a social ecology of health promotion. Am. Psychol. 1992, 47(1):6-22.
46. Stokols D. Translating social ecological theory into guidelines for community health promotion. Am. J. Health Promot. 1996, 10:282-298.
47. Story M., Kaphingst K.M., French S. The role of child care settings in obesity prevention. Future Child. 2006, 16:143-168.
48. Trost S.D. Interventions to promote physical activity in young children encyclopedia on early childhood development online 2011, 1-6. (Available at: http://www.childencyclopedia.com/documents/TrostANGxp1.pdf. Accessed March 2 2012).
49. Trost S.G., Pate R.R., Freedson P.S., Sallis J.F., Taylor W.C. Using objective physical activity measures with youth: how many days of monitoring are needed?. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2000, 426-431.
50. Trost S., Fees B., Dzewaltowski D. Feasibility and efficacy of a "move and learn" physical activity curriculum in preschool children. J. Phys. Act. Health 2008, 5:88-103.
51. Trost S.G., Ward D.S., Senso M., Trost S.G., Ward D.S., Senso M. Effects of child care policy and environment on physical activity. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2010, 42:520-525.
52. Tucker P. The physical activity levels of preschool-aged children: a systematic review. Early Child. Res. Q. 2008, 23:547-558.
53. Ward D. Physical activity in young children: the role of child care. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2010, 42:499-501.
54. Ward D., Hales D., Haverly K., et al. An instrument to assess the obesogenic environment of child care centers. Am. J. Health Behav. 2008, 32:380.
55. Ward D., Benjamin S., Ammerman A., Ball S., Neelon B., Bangdiwala S. Nutrition and physical activity in child care: results from an environmental intervention. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2008, 35:352-356.
56. Ward D., Vaughn A., McWilliams C., Hales D. Interventions for increasing physical activity at child care. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2010, 42:526-534.
57. Williams H., Pfeiffer K., O'Neill J., et al. Motor skill performance and physical activity in preschool children. Obesity 2008, 16:1421-1426.
58. Wolfenden L., Neve M., Farrell L., et al. Physical activity policies and practices of childcare centres in Australia. Paediatr. Child Health 2010, 47:73-76.