Family planning to promote physical activity: a randomized controlled trial protocol

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Public Health Interventions
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Physical activity is crucial for children's development and long-term health.
• Current physical activity levels in children and adults fall short of public health guidelines.
• Low adherence to physical activity guidelines necessitates effective intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if a planning intervention improves adherence to regular physical activity in families.
• To compare the effectiveness of a planning condition versus an education-only control condition.
• To identify strategies for increasing physical activity among families with children aged 6-12 years.

Main Methods:

• A six-month longitudinal randomized controlled trial design.
• Inclusion of baseline assessments and booster sessions at six weeks and three months.
• Utilized questionnaires, accelerometry, and fitness tests for data collection.

Main Results:

• Study is ongoing with recruitment targeting 160 families.
• 137 families have been recruited from Greater Victoria.
• Data collection includes accelerometry and fitness assessments at multiple time points.

Conclusions:

• The randomized controlled trial protocol employs planning strategies to enhance family physical activity.
• Findings could inform public health initiatives to combat sedentary behavior.
• Results may guide future interventions promoting physical activity in families.