TY - JOUR
T1 - Ten years of ‘flying the flag’
T2 - An overview and retrospective consideration of the active school flag physical activity initiative for children—design, development & evaluation
AU - Belton, Sarahjane
AU - Britton, Úna
AU - Murtagh, Elaine
AU - Meegan, Sarah
AU - Duff, Christina
AU - McGann, Jamie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - Whole-school physical activity (PA) promotion programmes are recommended to increase youth PA. Evaluation of programmes is essential to ensure practice is guided by evidence. This paper evaluates the Active School Flag (ASF), a whole-school PA promotion programme in Ireland, using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. ASF was evaluated across three levels—(1) administration, (2) application, (3) outcomes—using a mixed-methods case study design. Existing data sources were reviewed, the programme coordinator was interviewed, and a pilot study was conducted to investigate impact on 3rd and 5th class students (3 schools, n = 126 students, age range 8–12 years). In-school Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA; by accelerometery), motivation for PA (BREQ), PA self-efficacy (PASES), school affect and peer social support (Kidscreen27) were measured pre-programme (0 months), post-programme (8 months), and at retention (12 months). Teacher perceptions of classroom behaviour (CBAST) were also measured pre-and post-programme. ASF has been successful in engaging 46% of primary schools nationally. Students’ in-school moderate–vigorous PA increased in all pilot-study schools from pre-programme to retention (η2 = 0.68–0.84). ASF programme design facilitates implementation fidelity, adoption and maintenance through buy in from schools and government stakeholders. ASF presents as an effective PA promotion programme in the short-to-medium term for primary schools. This RE-AIM evaluation provides evidence of ASF effectiveness, alongside valuable findings that could support programme improvement, and inform future similar programmes.
AB - Whole-school physical activity (PA) promotion programmes are recommended to increase youth PA. Evaluation of programmes is essential to ensure practice is guided by evidence. This paper evaluates the Active School Flag (ASF), a whole-school PA promotion programme in Ireland, using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. ASF was evaluated across three levels—(1) administration, (2) application, (3) outcomes—using a mixed-methods case study design. Existing data sources were reviewed, the programme coordinator was interviewed, and a pilot study was conducted to investigate impact on 3rd and 5th class students (3 schools, n = 126 students, age range 8–12 years). In-school Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA; by accelerometery), motivation for PA (BREQ), PA self-efficacy (PASES), school affect and peer social support (Kidscreen27) were measured pre-programme (0 months), post-programme (8 months), and at retention (12 months). Teacher perceptions of classroom behaviour (CBAST) were also measured pre-and post-programme. ASF has been successful in engaging 46% of primary schools nationally. Students’ in-school moderate–vigorous PA increased in all pilot-study schools from pre-programme to retention (η2 = 0.68–0.84). ASF programme design facilitates implementation fidelity, adoption and maintenance through buy in from schools and government stakeholders. ASF presents as an effective PA promotion programme in the short-to-medium term for primary schools. This RE-AIM evaluation provides evidence of ASF effectiveness, alongside valuable findings that could support programme improvement, and inform future similar programmes.
KW - Active schools
KW - Health promotion
KW - Physical activity
KW - Primary education
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116299938&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/children7120300
DO - 10.3390/children7120300
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85116299938
SN - 2227-9067
VL - 7
JO - Children
JF - Children
IS - 12
M1 - 300
ER -