. 2022 Apr 7;22(1):680.

doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13135-7.

Physical activity and screen time in outside school hours care services across Australia: current versus best practice

Rosa Virgara¹, Anna Phillips¹, Lucy K Lewis², Mandy Richardson³, Carol A Maher^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
² Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
³ Department for Education, Government of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁴ Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia. carol.maher@unisa.edu.au.
⁵ University of South Australia - City East Campus, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia. carol.maher@unisa.edu.au.

PMID: 35392875
PMCID: PMC8991463
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13135-7

Physical activity and screen time in outside school hours care services across Australia: current versus best practice

Rosa Virgara et al. BMC Public Health. 2022.

. 2022 Apr 7;22(1):680.

doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13135-7.

Authors

Rosa Virgara¹, Anna Phillips¹, Lucy K Lewis², Mandy Richardson³, Carol A Maher^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
² Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
³ Department for Education, Government of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁴ Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia. carol.maher@unisa.edu.au.
⁵ University of South Australia - City East Campus, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia. carol.maher@unisa.edu.au.

PMID: 35392875
PMCID: PMC8991463
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13135-7

Abstract

Background: Outside school hours care (OSHC) is accessed by millions of children internationally. Recently, physical activity and screen time guidelines in OSHC were developed. This study described the current physical activity and screen time scheduling in Australian OSHC, obtained sector feedback on the guidelines and compared current- with best-practice.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to n = 3551 Australian OSHC directors. Participants reported scheduling for physical activity and screen time opportunities in before- and after-school care. Feedback was sought on the new guidelines, including barriers and enablers for implementation. Scheduling data were used to evaluate whether services were currently meeting the new guidelines; that is if time allocated matched with time recommended.

Results: Five hundred and sixty-six directors participated (response rate 16%). Physical activity and screen time practices varied widely (e.g., after-school physical activity opportunity ranged from 15 to 150 min, mean 74, SD 28; after-school screen time opportunity ranged from 15 to 195 min, mean 89, SD 43), with state (p = 0.002) and socioeconomic (based on postcode; p < 0.001) differences. Most participants (54-81%) agreed that the guideline's recommended physical activity and screen time durations were appropriate, however, only 40% of participants' OSHC services' programs actually met the guidelines.

Conclusions: Physical activity and screen time scheduling in OSHC is highly variable. Despite support for the guidelines, current scheduling practice in the majority of OSHC services surveyed do not meet best practice guidelines.

Keywords: Best practice; Guidelines; Outside school hours care; Physical activity; Screen time.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Percentage of services meeting physical activity and screen time guidelines

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Physical activity and screen time in outside school hours care services across Australia: current versus best practice

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Physical activity and screen time in outside school hours care services across Australia: current versus best practice

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Conflict of interest statement

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