Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Multicenter Study
. 2017 May 6;17(1):401.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4327-3.

Study Protocol of MINI SALTEN: a technology-based multi-component intervention in the school environment targeting healthy habits of first grade children and their parents

Irina Kovalskys  1   2 , Cecile Rausch Herscovici  3 , Paula Indart Rougier  3   4 , María José De Gregorio  5 , Luciana Zonis  3   4 , Liliana Orellana  6
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Study Protocol of MINI SALTEN: a technology-based multi-component intervention in the school environment targeting healthy habits of first grade children and their parents

Irina Kovalskys et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: MINI SALTEN is a program developed to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (PA) and improve eating habits at home and school in first grade children. It aims to assess the effects of a technology family-based and PA school-based intervention. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the protocol design and the MINISALTEN intervention.

Methods: This is cluster-randomized controlled trial designed to run from July 2015 to November 2016 in 12 public schools of the city of Buenos Aires, matched for socio-demographic characteristics. The intervention is based on two main components: (a) "active breaks" (AB): implemented during school breaks by a PA instructor; (b) "virtual" (V): web-based contents delivered to the families via a multiplatform application. Using a computer generated random sequence participants are allocated to one of four intervention conditions: (AB), (V), (AB + V), and control (C). Outcomes are measured at baseline and 12 months post intervention, and will include data collected from the child and her/his mother/father or guardian. Primary outcome measures are: PA and sedentary behaviour (measured with accelerometers). Secondary outcome measures related are: percentage of kilocalories (kcal) from added sugars, and from total and saturated fats; grams of fruits and vegetables; and number of snacks and kcal coming from their added sugars and total and saturated fats. Family socio-economic level, home environment, and school environment will also be assessed. Statistical analysis is on an intention-to-treat principle. Baseline characteristics are described using summary measures and mixed models (with school as random effect). The effect of the two interventions will be estimated using a generalized mixed linear model with link and distribution selected according to the type of outcome. Included random effects are: child (or mother/father or guardian) accounting for repeated measures; school accounting for cluster induced by school. The most parsimonious model for each outcome will be reported. The False Discovery Rate criterion will be used to correct for multiple testing in non-planned analyses.

Discussion: It is a pioneer assessment of the impact of a technology-based virtual intervention and a school-based PA program, designed to prevent obesity, and involving the parents at public schools of Buenos Aires.

Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN58093412 . Registered March 14th, 2016 (retrospectively registered).

Keywords: Healthy eating habits; Obesity prevention; Physical activity; School-based intervention; Technology-based intervention; Young children.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow Diagram
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Verstraeten R, Roberfroid D, Lachat C, Leroy JL, Holdsworth M, Maes L, et al. Effectiveness of preventive school-based obesity interventions in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;96(2):415–438. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.035378. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Sääkslahti A, Numminen P, Varstala V, Helenius H, Tammi A, Viikari J, et al. Physical activity as a preventive measure for coronary heart disease risk factors in early childhood. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2004;14(3):143–149. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2004.00347.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Gopinath B, Hardy LL, Kifley A, Baur LA, Mitchell P. Activity behaviors in schoolchildren and subsequent 5-yr change in blood pressure. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014;46(4):724–729. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000166. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ekelund U, Ward HA, Norat T, Ja L, May AM, Weiderpass E, et al. Physical activity and all-cause mortality across levels of overall and abdominal adiposity in European men and women: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Study (EPIC) Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Guerra PH, Nobre MR, da Silveira JA, Taddei JA. School-based physical activity and nutritional education interventions on body mass index: A meta-analysis of randomised community trials - Project PANE. Prev Med. 2014 - PubMed

Publication types

Associated data