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Characterization of physical literacy in children with chronic medical conditions compared with healthy controls: a
Jeffrey Do1,2, Angelica Blais1,3, Brian Feldman4,5
1Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Insights
Children with medical conditions show similar overall physical literacy to healthy peers. However, they have lower physical competence but higher motivation, indicating a need for targeted motor skill and fitness interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric health
- Physical education
- Rehabilitation sciences
Background:
- Physical literacy is crucial for a healthy, active lifestyle.
- Understanding physical literacy in children with medical conditions is essential for developing targeted support.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the physical literacy levels of children with diverse medical conditions compared to healthy peers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the physical literacy of children aged 8-12 years with various medical conditions to that of healthy children.
- To identify specific components of physical literacy that may differ between these groups.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter, cross-sectional study involving 130 children with medical conditions matched with 390 healthy peers.
- Assessment of physical literacy using the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy, evaluating physical competence, daily behavior, knowledge/understanding, and motivation/confidence.
- Statistical comparison of physical literacy scores between the case and control groups.
Main Results:
- Overall physical literacy scores did not significantly differ between children with medical conditions and healthy peers.
- Children with medical conditions exhibited significantly lower physical competence (motor skills and fitness) but higher motivation and confidence.
- No significant differences were found in daily behavior or knowledge/understanding scores between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Children with medical conditions possess comparable overall physical literacy to healthy peers, driven by high motivation.
- Impaired physical competence (motor skills, fitness) in children with medical conditions highlights the need for targeted interventions.
- Interventions should focus on enhancing physical competence rather than solely on motivation or knowledge for this population.
Abstract:
To determine the physical literacy, defined as the capability for a physically active lifestyle, of children with medical conditions compared with healthy peers, this multicenter cross-sectional study recruited children with medical conditions from cardiology, neurology (including concussion), rheumatology, mental health, respirology, oncology, hematology, and rehabilitation (including cerebral palsy) clinics. Participants aged 8-12 years (N = 130; mean age: 10.0 ± 1.44 years; 44% female) were randomly matched to 3 healthy peers from a normative database, based on age, gender, and month of testing. Total physical literacy was assessed by the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy, a validated assessment of physical literacy measuring physical competence, daily behaviour, knowledge/understanding, and motivation/confidence. Total physical literacy mean scores (/100) did not differ (t(498) = -0.67; p = 0.44) between participants (61.0 ± 14.2) and matched healthy peers (62.0 ± 10.7). Children with medical conditions had lower mean physical competence scores (/30; -6.5 [-7.44 to -5.51]; p < 0.001) but higher mean motivation/confidence scores (/30; 2.6 [1.67 to 3.63]; p < 0.001). Mean daily behaviour and knowledge/understanding scores did not differ from matches (/30; 1.8 [0.26 to 3.33]; p = 0.02;/10; -0.04 [-0.38 to 0.30]; p = 0.81; respectively). Children with medical conditions are motivated to be physically active but demonstrate impaired movement skills and fitness, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to improve their physical competence. Novelty: Physical literacy in children with diverse chronic medical conditions is similar to healthy peers. Children with medical conditions have lower physical competence than healthy peers, but higher motivation and confidence. Physical competence (motor skill, fitness) interventions, rather than motivation or education, are needed for these youth.
