Implementation Outcomes and Recommendations of Two Physical Activity Interventions: Results from the Danish ACTIVE SCHOOL Feasibility Study
- PMID: 39857521
- PMCID: PMC11765277
- DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22010067
Implementation Outcomes and Recommendations of Two Physical Activity Interventions: Results from the Danish ACTIVE SCHOOL Feasibility Study
Abstract
Physical activity (PA) should be an essential part of all children's lives, as it can promote physical and mental health, enhance general well-being, and positively impact learning outcomes. Schools offer an ideal setting to encourage physical activity during the school day, as nearly all children attend school. However, schools present a complex environment for implementing PA, and sedentary behavior is common in classroom teaching. This study explores the feasibility of two types of school-based physical activity interventions: one based on research in exercise and cognition (Run, Jump & Fun) and another grounded in embodied learning (Move & Learn). Run, Jump & Fun can be conceptualized as extra non-curricular physical activity implemented into the school day while Move & Learn is integrated into curricular time. The 8-week study involved third-grade students and their teachers from seven schools, with educational strategies applied to support adoption. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected before, during, and after the 8-week period. The results indicated that both interventions were feasible to implement, leading to a series of recommendations for further refinement. These recommendations can guide the development of future school-based PA interventions and inspire other researchers to assess and improve their implementation strategies.
Keywords: children; health interventions; learning; primary school; teachers.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.
Figures





Similar articles
-
Study protocol for the ACTIVE SCHOOL study investigating two different strategies of physical activity to improve academic performance in Schoolchildren.BMC Pediatr. 2024 Mar 9;24(1):174. doi: 10.1186/s12887-024-04647-9. BMC Pediatr. 2024. PMID: 38461348 Free PMC article.
-
A quasi-experimental cross-disciplinary evaluation of the impacts of education outside the classroom on pupils' physical activity, well-being and learning: the TEACHOUT study protocol.BMC Public Health. 2016 Oct 24;16(1):1117. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3780-8. BMC Public Health. 2016. PMID: 27776502 Free PMC article.
-
The FLEX study school-based physical activity programs - measurement and evaluation of implementation.BMC Public Health. 2019 Jan 16;19(1):73. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-6335-3. BMC Public Health. 2019. PMID: 30651117 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Increasing Children's Physical Activity During the School Day.Curr Obes Rep. 2015 Jun;4(2):147-56. doi: 10.1007/s13679-015-0159-6. Curr Obes Rep. 2015. PMID: 26627212 Review.
-
Whole-school interventions promoting student commitment to school to prevent substance use and violence, and improve educational attainment: a systematic review.Public Health Res (Southampt). 2024 Feb;12(2):1-290. doi: 10.3310/DWTR3299. Public Health Res (Southampt). 2024. PMID: 38356404
References
-
- Singh A.S., Saliasi E., van den Berg V., Uijtdewilligen L., de Groot R.H.M., Jolles J., Andersen L.B., Bailey R., Chang Y.-K., Diamond A., et al. Effects of physical activity interventions on cognitive and academic performance in children and adolescents: A novel combination of a systematic review and recommendations from an expert panel. Br. J. Sports Med. 2019;53:640–647. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098136. - DOI - PubMed
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical