ERIC Number: EJ1157046
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Nov
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: N/A
Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Healthy Exercise, Eating, and Lifestyle Program for Primary Schools
Cochrane, Thomas; Davey, Rachel C.
Journal of School Health, v87 n11 p823-831 Nov 2017
BAckground: Reversing decline in physical fitness and increase in excess body weight in school children are considered major public health challenges. We evaluated a proposed model to integrate a screening and healthy exercise, eating, and lifestyle program (HEELP) into primary schools in Canberra, Australia. Objectives were: (1) to establish body status and physical competencies of 5- to 10-year-old children; (2) to evaluate the service's impact on body status and physical fitness; and (3) to gauge parent/guardian and school perspectives on the service. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used over 4 school years, 2010-2013. Primary evaluation used direct quantitative measurement. Confirmatory qualitative methods were implemented in the last 2 years. Results: The service was delivered on 71 occasions involving 25 schools; 7750 children were screened and 709 completed all aspects of the HEELP evaluation. Over 60% of children screened had 2 or more measures that would benefit from remedial intervention. Conclusions: All body status and physical fitness measures showed small beneficial changes on a population basis immediately after the HEELP. Further benefit did not accrue at 6 months after the program. Semistructured interviews with schools and parent/guardian surveys confirmed some beneficial effects observed by direct quantitative measurement.
Descriptors: Mixed Methods Research, Physical Fitness, Semi Structured Interviews, Foreign Countries, Exercise, Body Composition, Physical Activity Level, Child Health, Physical Activities, Public Health, Nutrition, Elementary School Students, Eating Habits, Well Being, Obesity
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A