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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Dec 7:15:1212.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2543-2.

Rationale and methods of a cluster-randomized controlled trial to promote active and healthy lifestyles among Brazilian students: the "Fortaleça sua Saúde" program

Valter Cordeiro Barbosa Filho  1   2   3 , Adair da Silva Lopes  4 , Antônio Barroso Lima  5 , Evanice Avelino de Souza  6   7 , Fabiane do Amaral Gubert  8   9 , Kelly Samara Silva  10 , Neiva Francenely Cunha Vieira  11   12 , Nicolino Trompieri Filho  13   14 , Thábyta Silva de Araújo  15   16 , Pedro Felipe Carvalhedo de Bruin  17 , Jorge Mota  18 ; “Fortaleça sua Saúde” Working Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Rationale and methods of a cluster-randomized controlled trial to promote active and healthy lifestyles among Brazilian students: the "Fortaleça sua Saúde" program

Valter Cordeiro Barbosa Filho et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Interventions on adolescents' lifestyle are important, but the main mechanisms that explain the changes (mediating variables) on lifestyle are unclear. This paper presents the rationale and methods of an intervention program focused on promoting active and healthy lifestyles (especially physical activity [PA] practice and reducing screen time) among Brazilian students-the Fortaleça sua Saúde program (Portuguese for "strengthen your health").

Methods/design: This is a school-based cluster-randomized controlled trial. Three intervention and three control (no intervention) full-time public schools were randomly selected in Fortaleza, northeastern Brazil. Students (n = 1,272) from classes in Grades 7-9 were eligible, and 1,085 (548 in the intervention and 537 in control schools) completed the baseline and follow-up measures. The program duration was approximately four months and took place in 2014. Intervention strategies focused on teacher training, activities on health in the curriculum, active opportunities in the school environment (the availability of equipment for PA), and health education (health materials for students and parents). Data collection was undertaken before and immediately after the intervention. The primary variables included the practice of PA (weekly PA volume, PA behavior change stage and preference for PA during leisure-time) and screen time (TV and computer/video games). Potential intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental mediators of PA and screen time were evaluated by a standardized questionnaire. Other lifestyle components (e.g., eating habits, substance use), psychological (e.g., self-rated health, body satisfaction) and biological (general and abdominal obesity) aspects, as well as academic performance were also evaluated in the total sample. Depressive symptoms, eating disorders, sleep quality, objectively-measured PA, and sedentary time were evaluated in obese students.

Discussion: If effective, this program will contribute to the development of public policies for the promotion of active and healthy lifestyles in youth, especially those from low- and middle-income countries. The main intrapersonal, interpersonal and/or environmental mediators of PA and screen time may also be indicated. Finally, we anticipate that the proposed strategies may be adaptable to public schools and may even be extended to the entire school system.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.Gov: NCT02439827 . Registration date: May 3, 2015.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the Fortaleça sua Saúde program study. PSE: Programa Saúde na Escola; IG: intervention group; CG: control group
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Logic model of the Fortaleça sua Saúde program study. PA: physical activity; PE: Physical Education
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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