Physical Activity in Schools After the Reform

NCT03946241 | Completed DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 72682115606
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 5,018
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In 2014 the Danish Government introduced a wide-ranging school reform that applies to all public schools in Denmark. In a physical activity promotion perspective, a distinctive feature of the school reform is that it has become mandatory to integrate an average of 45 minutes of daily physical activity in the regular school day. The overarching objective of the PHASAR study is to evaluate the implementation of this ambitious policy-driven physical activity promotion initiative and its potential effect on physical activity and overweight. The PHASAR study provides a rare opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of a nation-wide policy-driven school-based physical activity promotion initiative.

Conditions

Physical Activity; Overweight; Physical Inactivity

Keywords

School children; Physical Activity; Accelerometry; Body mass index; Implementation; Policy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in levels of school time physical activity, reported as time spent moving, in a representative sample of school children before and after the school reform.

  Objectively measured physical activity data are obtained via accelerometers mounted on the hip of the school children for a representative number of consecutive days. The school children's time spent moving will be longitudinally analysed on the school level (not class or individual level).

  Pre-reform data have been collected between 1998 and 2012. Post-reform data have been collected during the school year 2017 to 2018.

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change in school children's BMI from the majority of all Danish public schools before, during, and after implementing the school reform.

  National BMI data have been obtained annually from 2011 and onwards. Thus, data from 2011 till 2018 will be utilized for this outcome.

• Changes in BMI among school children before and after implementing the school reform.

  Data will be obtained from the pre-reform research studies in the years leading up to the school reform and the data collected during the school years 2017/18 and 2018/19.

• Changes in waist-to-height ratio among school children before and after implementing the school reform.

  Data will be obtained from the pre-reform research studies in the years leading up to the school reform and the data collected during the school years 2017/18 and 2018/19.

• Change in time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity in school children during school time, leisure time and total time from before till after the school reform.

  Data will be obtained from the pre-reform research studies in the years leading up to the school reform and the data collected during the school years 2017/18 and 2018/19.

• The total amount of physical activity in school children during school time, leisure time and total time before and after the school reform.

  Data will be obtained from the pre-reform research studies in the years leading up to the school reform and the data collected during the school years 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Study Arms (2)

Pre-reform study populations

Children from 1st to 9th grade (n \~ 2,600) from four different school-based studies collecting objective physical activity data. The four studies are 1) The European Youth Heart Study (EYHS) conducted in 1997-98, 2003-04 and 2009-10, 2) When Cities Move Children (WCMC) conducted in 2010 and 2012, 3) Childhood Health, Activity, and Motor Performance School Study Denmark (CHAMPS-DK) conducted in 2009, 2010 and 2012, and 4) School site, Play Spot, Active transport, Club fitness and Environment (SPACE) conducted in 2010 and 2012. A total of 44 schools where included in the studies.

Post-reform study population

Children from 1st to 9th grade in 2017-18 from the same schools as included in the pre-reform research studies (n \~ 2,600). Two of the pre-reform research studies (CHAMPS-DK and SPACE) introduced PA promoting initiatives as part of the study. To minimize any influence from participation in these interventions we chose only to include and recruit participants from control schools from these studies. A total of 36 schools where invited and 31 subsequently accepted to participate. Parents and teachers of the children were included as well.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 6 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Pre-reform studies: School children in 1st to 9th grade (ages between 6 and 17 years). The participating children's parents or legal guardians. Post-reform studies: School children in 1st to 9th grade (ages between 6 and 17 years). The participating children's parents or legal guardians. Teachers, pedagogues, and headmasters from the same schools.

You may qualify if:

• Pre-reform study population:
• \- School children who been included in one of the four pre-reform studies.
• Post-reform study population:
• \- Children attended one of the public schools and age groups that had already been included in one of the four pre-reform studies.

You may not qualify if:

• \- School children that suffers from physical disabilities or injuries preventing physical activity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Southern Denmark: lead
• TrygFonden, Denmark: collaborator
• University of Cambridge: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark

Odense, 5230, Denmark

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Overweight; Sedentary Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Anders Grøntved, PhD

  University of Southern Denmark

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Jens Troelsen, Professor

  University of Southern Denmark

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: ECOLOGIC OR COMMUNITY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 6, 2019
• First Posted: May 10, 2019
• Study Start: August 22, 2017
• Primary Completion: December 2, 2019
• Study Completion: June 1, 2022
• Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: The data are expected to be available latest on the 1st of august 2027. It is likely that it will be available from approximately 2021. After data has been handed over, there is no expiry of availability.
• Access Criteria: For the first 20 years after the data has been handed over to the Danish National Archives the inquirer can get access to the data if the PI of the project accepts the inquiry. After this, there is no restrictions on availability.

Locations

DK (1)