Purpose
The main purpose of the proposed study is to investigate whether, and if so, which context factors modify implementation quality of school-based health promotion interventions based on the example of a three-week national, non-curricular school-based physical activity competition program, conducted every year in Danish Schools (“Aktiv Rundt i Danmark”).
Background
According to the World Health Organization insufficient physical activity is the fourth leading risk factor for mortality and what is particularly worrying are the increasing levels of physical inactivity among the young, a trend which started in the second half of the 20th century. An important setting for targeting public health initiatives to physically inactive children is the school. The outcomes of school-based physical activity interventions, however, so far seem mixed. An important modifying factor seems to be the quality of program implementation and there is a need for studies which explicitly link implementation of physical activity interventions to the many parameters characterizing the school context.
Research questions
- To which extent is the program implemented by the schools, which participate in the program? In particular, to which extent do participants achieve implementation goals regarding criteria such as reach, dose delivered, dose received and fidelity?
- Which barriers and facilitators do teachers and parents perceive with regard to program implementation?
- Do context factors, such as provider characteristics, delivery system characteristics, support system characteristics and target group characteristics affect level of program implementation?
Methods
The study focuses primarily on the evaluation of program process using a mixed methods approach.
Quantitative activity logs for teachers and students and a quantitative questionnaire for teachers will be combined with a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with teachers and parents of participating students as well as activity observations. In order to help create a more adequate understanding of what characterizes the schools, their specific culture and the interaction between teachers and pupils, the project will begin with a pilot phase in autumn 2015 where 3-4 school classes participating in the campaign will be followed, conducting several-day fieldwork.
Supervisors:
Main supervisor: Anja Leppin, Unit for Health Promotion Research, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark
Co-supervisors: Pernille Tanggaard Andersen, Unit for Health Promotion Research , Jesper Von Seelen, UC South Denmark, Knowledge Center for Health Promotion
Timeframe
1 August 2015 - 1 August 2019