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. 2020 May;18(2):80-88.
doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2020.01.002. Epub 2020 Jan 20.

Evaluation of the process and outcomes of the Global Matrix 3.0 of physical activity grades for children and youth

Affiliations

Evaluation of the process and outcomes of the Global Matrix 3.0 of physical activity grades for children and youth

Salomé Aubert et al. J Exerc Sci Fit. 2020 May.

Abstract

Background/objective: Participation in the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA) Global Matrix initiative represents a significant work and resource investment for Report Card teams. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the process and findings of the Global Matrix 3.0 and formulate recommendations for improvement.

Methods: The evaluation of the Global Matrix 3.0 was planned prior to its development and a list of potential process, impact, and outcome indicators were pre-identified. These indicators were informed by online surveys, direct reports, MailChimp's statistics, Google Analytics of the AHKGA website, and emails sent to the AHKGA Board of Directors.

Results: Five online surveys were completed by 88%-100% of the targeted respondents. High satisfaction ratings were observed for most of the Global Matrix 3.0 methods, key steps, concepts, and the resources (e-blasts and website) provided by the AHKGA. A total of 496 open-ended comments were provided in the five surveys, including 199 comments reporting issue(s), and 38 reporting both positive feedback and issue(s). The participating Report Card teams successfully assigned a grade to each physical activity indicator, produced a Report Card document, and wrote a short Report Card article.

Conclusion: This evaluation process allowed for the identification of needed improvements and the formulation of recommendations for future Global Matrix initiatives. This work highlighted the need for the development of physical activity behavior assessment tools that would be internationally adopted and culturally adaptable to varying contexts to improve the standardization of physical activity surveillance at the global scale.

Keywords: Adolescent; Child; International cooperation; Outcome assessment; Process assessment; Youth sport.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors want to disclose that they were members of the AHKGA Board of Directors during the development of the Global Matrix 3.0.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Timeline presenting the key steps of the Global Matrix 3.0 development and the time of the evaluation surveys. AHKGA = Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance; JPAH = Journal of Physical Activity and Health.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of page views in the AHKGA website member only section over the year 2018 provided by Google Analytics.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Satisfaction rates of the Report Card leaders collected in the Report Card Leader Surveys 1, 2, and 3 concerning the registration process (A), the Report Card team (B), the Report Card process (C), the final Report Card documents (D), the short Report Card articles and the integrated articles (E), the release of the Report Cards and of the Global Matrix 3.0 (F), the supportive resources provided by AHKGA (G), and the general satisfaction concerning the Global Matrix 3.0 (H).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Satisfaction rates of the Report Card leaders collected in the Report Card Leader Surveys 1, 2, and 3 concerning the registration process (A), the Report Card team (B), the Report Card process (C), the final Report Card documents (D), the short Report Card articles and the integrated articles (E), the release of the Report Cards and of the Global Matrix 3.0 (F), the supportive resources provided by AHKGA (G), and the general satisfaction concerning the Global Matrix 3.0 (H).

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