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
. 2020 Mar 17;21(1):268.
doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-4187-5.

Protocol for a mixed methods process evaluation of a hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial of a scaled-up whole-school physical activity program for adolescents: Physical Activity 4 Everyone (PA4E1)

Matthew Mclaughlin  1   2   3   4 , Jed Duff  5 , Rachel Sutherland  6   5   7   8 , Elizabeth Campbell  6   5   7   8 , Luke Wolfenden  6   5   7   8 , John Wiggers  6   5   7   8
Affiliations

Protocol for a mixed methods process evaluation of a hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial of a scaled-up whole-school physical activity program for adolescents: Physical Activity 4 Everyone (PA4E1)

Matthew Mclaughlin et al. Trials. .

Abstract

Background: Physical Activity 4 Everyone (PA4E1) is a physical activity program for secondary schools located in low-socioeconomic areas. Over a 24-month period, schools in the program arm of a cluster randomised controlled trial (n = up to 38 schools) will receive a multi-component implementation support strategy to embed the seven school physical activity practices of the PA4E1 program. This article describes the process evaluation of the PA4E1 hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial. The process evaluation aims to describe the fidelity and reach of the implementation support strategies using quantitative data; and to describe the acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of the implementation support strategies and physical activity practices to school stakeholders using mixed methods.

Methods: Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected from participants (Physical Education teachers, in-School Champions, students) in the program arm. Data collection will involve semi-structured interviews, focus groups, a fidelity monitoring log, a fidelity checklist, surveys, and routinely collected administrative and website data. Quantitative data will be analysed descriptively and qualitative data will be analysed thematically within and across data sets. Triangulation between data sources will be used to synthesise findings regarding the implementation and potential mechanisms of impact of PA4E1 on school physical activity practice adoption, with respect to context.

Discussion: Results of the process evaluation will facilitate the interpretation of the findings of the trial outcomes. It will comprehensively describe what was actually implemented and identify the potential contribution of the various components of the implementation support strategy to the school physical activity practice adoption outcomes. Findings will inform future improvement and scale-up of PA4E1 and approaches to implementing secondary school-based physical activity programs more broadly.

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12617000681358 registered 12 May 2017.

Keywords: Adolescents; Implementation; Mixed methods; Physical activity; Process evaluation; Randomised controlled trial; Schools.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PA4E1 program logic model: Inclusive of implementation support strategies, physical activity practices and evaluation outcomes of the hybrid implementation-effectiveness evaluation. For detailed descriptions of the implementation support strategies and the physical activity practices see Additional file 2
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Schedule of PA4E1 process evaluation data collection methods (SPIRIT Figure)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Analytical procedure for the PA4E1 mixed methods process evaluation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Lee IM, Shiroma EJ, Lobelo F, Puska P, Blair SN, Katzmarzyk PT, et al. Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: An analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy. Lancet. 2012;380(9838):219–229. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ding D, Lawson KD, Kolbe-Alexander TL, Finkelstein EA, Katzmarzyk PT, van Mechelen W, et al. The economic burden of physical inactivity: a global analysis of major non-communicable diseases. Lancet. 2016;388(10051):1311–24. Available from: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30383-X. - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization . Global recommendations on physical activity for health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010. - PubMed
    1. Hallal PC, Andersen LB, Bull FC, Guthold R, Haskell W, Ekelund U. Global physical activity levels: surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects. Lancet. 2012;380(9838):247–257. - PubMed
    1. Telama R. Tracking of physical activity from childhood to adulthood: a review. Obes Facts. 2009;2(3):187–195. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types