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Sliwa SA, Calvert HG, Williams HP, Turner L. Prevalence and Types of School-Based Out-of-School Time Programs at Elementary Schools and Implications for Student Nutrition and Physical Activity. THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 2019; 89:48-58. [PMID: 30506694 PMCID: PMC6743323 DOI: 10.1111/josh.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Out-of-school time (OST) programs are an important setting for supporting student health and academic achievement. This study describes the prevalence and characteristics of school-based OST programs, which can inform efforts to promote healthy behaviors in this setting. METHODS A nationally representative sample of public elementary schools (N = 640) completed surveys in 2013-2014. Administrators reported on OST programs and policies at their school. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated the prevalence of school-based OST programs, adjusting for school characteristics. Among schools with OST programs (N = 475), chi-square tests identified school characteristics associated with having an OST policy about physical activity or nutrition. RESULTS Three fourths of elementary schools (75.6%) had a full- or partial-year school-based OST program, with 30.8% having both. Full- and partial-year programs were significantly less prevalent in rural and township areas versus urban settings. Only 27.5% of schools with OST programs reported having physical activity and/or nutrition policies. CONCLUSIONS Most US elementary schools have an on-site OST program, but disparities in access exist, and most lack policies or awareness of existing policies regarding physical activity and nutrition. To maximize OST programs' potential benefits, strategies are needed to increase access to programs and physical activity and/or nutrition policy adoption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Sliwa
- Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, GA 30341
| | - Hannah G. Calvert
- College of Education, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, #1740, Boise, ID 83725-1740
| | - Heather P. Williams
- College of Education, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, #1740, Boise, ID 83725-1740
| | - Lindsey Turner
- College of Education, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, #1740, Boise, ID 83725-1740
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Economos CD, Anzman-Frasca S, Koomas AH, Chan G, Folta SC, Heck J, Newman M, Sacheck JM. Snacks, beverages, and physical activity during volunteer-led out-of-school-time programs: a cross-sectional analysis. BMC Public Health 2017; 17:125. [PMID: 28129761 PMCID: PMC5270327 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4040-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tens of millions of children regularly participate in out-of-school-time (OST) programs, providing an opportunity for child health promotion. Most research on OST has focused on structured, staff-led after-school programs, as opposed to volunteer-led programs such as enrichment programs and youth sports. The aim of this study was to describe snacks, beverages, and physical activity (PA) practices in volunteer-led OST programs across five organizations in three states. Methods An online survey including the Out-of-School-Time Snacks, Beverages, and Physical Activity Questionnaire was distributed to 1,695 adult leaders of enrichment and youth sports programs serving 5–12 year-old children in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, USA. The response rate was 57.8%, with 980 leaders participating and 698 (136 youth sports, 562 enrichment) remaining after data cleaning procedures. Frequencies were calculated to describe snack, beverage, and PA offerings during typical meetings and whether healthy snack, beverage, and PA criteria were met. Criteria were developed a priori with the intent to capture co-occurring practices that together indicate healthy snack (fruits and vegetables or no snack over salty/sweet snacks); beverage (water over sugar-sweetened beverages); and PA environments (regular opportunities for >15 or 45 min of PA in enrichment and sports programs, respectively). Results About half of enrichment leaders reported that snacks and beverages were provided during typical meetings vs. one-fifth of sports leaders. In 28.4% of enrichment programs, PA was offered at every meeting vs. 98.5% of sports programs. Among enrichment programs, 50.4 and 25.8% met healthy snack and beverage criteria, respectively, and 29.4% met PA criteria, with 27.6% meeting criteria in two or more areas, and 5.0% in all three. Among sports programs, 72.8 and 78.7% met healthy snack and beverage criteria, respectively, and 71.3% met PA criteria. Eighty-two percent met criteria in two or more areas, and 46.3% met criteria in all three. Conclusions Most programs did not meet criteria for healthier snacks and beverages and opportunities for PA during typical meetings, indicating room for improvement in encouraging widespread adoption of these practices. Efforts to improve the healthfulness of snacks and beverages and increase opportunities for PA during volunteer-led OST programs are warranted. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4040-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina D Economos
- ChildObesity180, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 02111, MA, USA. .,Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
| | - Stephanie Anzman-Frasca
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, G56 Farber Hall, South Campus, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Alyssa H Koomas
- ChildObesity180, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 02111, MA, USA
| | - Grace Chan
- ChildObesity180, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 02111, MA, USA
| | - Sara C Folta
- Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Julianne Heck
- ChildObesity180, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 02111, MA, USA
| | - Molly Newman
- ChildObesity180, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 02111, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Sacheck
- Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
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Anzman-Frasca S, Boulos R, Hofer T, Folta SC, Koomas A, Nelson ME, Sacheck JM, Economos CD. Validation of the Out-of-School-Time Snacks, Beverages, and Physical Activity Questionnaire. Child Obes 2015; 11:439-48. [PMID: 26176191 PMCID: PMC8104022 DOI: 10.1089/chi.2014.0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent research has highlighted the potential for out-of-school-time (OST) environments to impact children's energy balance. Expanding upon this evidence requires validated measures to assess nutrition and physical activity (PA) environments across large samples of OST programs. The aim of this study was to assess the criterion validity of the Out-of-School-Time Snacks, Beverages, and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OST-SBPA), an online questionnaire designed to measure OST nutrition and PA environments by program leaders' reports. METHODS The study consisted of two samples of OST programs (total n=65). Objective data across program meetings were compared to program leaders' reports of usual snack, beverage, and PA offerings. All 65 programs provided snack and beverage data; PA data were available from 31 programs. Validity was assessed using percent agreement, Cohen's kappa, and Spearman's correlations. RESULTS All OST-SBPA items demonstrated agreement above 60% when dichotomized (e.g., none/some versus most/all of the time for frequency items). Most OST-SBPA items were significantly correlated with objective data, including how often fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, salty snacks, sweet snacks, protein snacks, milk, juice, and sweetened beverages were offered and four PA measures (r=0.43-0.78; p<0.01), whereas one item, the frequency that water was offered, was not (r=0.13; p=0.37). The water item demonstrated validity once water from water fountains was recoded and not considered a program-provided beverage. CONCLUSIONS These findings fill a gap in the literature through the validation of a brief questionnaire that can be used to assess OST nutrition and PA environments. The current results support the use of the OST-SBPA in studies aiming to assess and impact these environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Anzman-Frasca
- 1 ChildObesity180, Tufts University , Boston, MA
- 2 Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University , Boston, MA
| | - Rebecca Boulos
- 1 ChildObesity180, Tufts University , Boston, MA
- 2 Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University , Boston, MA
| | - Teresa Hofer
- 1 ChildObesity180, Tufts University , Boston, MA
| | - Sara C Folta
- 2 Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University , Boston, MA
- 3 Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, Tufts University , Medford, MA
| | | | - Miriam E Nelson
- 1 ChildObesity180, Tufts University , Boston, MA
- 2 Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University , Boston, MA
- 3 Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, Tufts University , Medford, MA
| | - Jennifer M Sacheck
- 2 Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University , Boston, MA
- 3 Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, Tufts University , Medford, MA
| | - Christina D Economos
- 1 ChildObesity180, Tufts University , Boston, MA
- 2 Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University , Boston, MA
- 3 Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, Tufts University , Medford, MA
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