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Murphy MH, O'Kane SM, Carlin A, Lahart IM, Doherty LC, Jago R, McDermott G, Faulkner M, Gallagher AM. Effectiveness of the Walking in ScHools (WISH) Study, a peer-led walking intervention for adolescent girls: results of a cluster randomised controlled trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2024; 21:19. [PMID: 38374037 PMCID: PMC10877798 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-024-01563-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most adolescent girls fail to meet current physical activity guidelines. Physical activity behaviours track from childhood into adulthood and providing adolescent girls with opportunities to be physically active may have health benefits beyond childhood. The effects of walking interventions on adult cardiometabolic health are known, however less is understood about the potential of walking to promote physical activity in adolescents. Following the Walking In ScHools (WISH) feasibility study, this definitive trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel, low-cost, school-based walking intervention at increasing physical activity levels of adolescent girls (aged 12-14 years). METHODS Female pupils were recruited from eighteen schools across the border region of Ireland and in Northern Ireland. In intervention schools (n = 9), girls aged 15-18 years, were trained as walk leaders, and led the younger pupils in 10-15 min walks before school, at break and lunch recess. All walks took place in school grounds and pupils were encouraged to participate in as many walks as possible each week. The primary outcome measure was accelerometer determined total physical activity (counts per minutes, cpm). RESULTS In total, 589 pupils were recruited to the study. At baseline, pupils engaged in a median (interquartile range (IQR)) 35.7 (21.2) mins moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day and only 12% (n = 66) of participants met physical activity guidelines (60 min MVPA per day). The intervention was delivered for a mean (standard deviation (SD)) 19.9 ± 0.97 weeks. The mean post-intervention total physical activity for the intervention group was 676 cpm and 710 cpm in the control group. Post-intervention total physical activity did not statistically differ between groups when adjusted for age, body mass index z-scores and baseline physical activity (mean difference, -33.5, 95% CI = -21.2 to 88.1; p = 0.213). CONCLUSIONS 'Scaling-up' physical activity interventions is challenging and despite a promising feasibility study, the results of this fully powered trial suggest that in this context, the WISH intervention did not increase device measured physical activity. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, school environments have changed and although pupils enjoyed the programme, attendance at walks was low, indicating that there is a need to better understand how to implement interventions within schools. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN; ISRCTN12847782; Registered 2nd July 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie H Murphy
- Centre for Exercise Medicine, Physical Activity and Health, Sports and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Belfast, BT15 1ED, UK
- Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PHARC), Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL, UK
| | - S Maria O'Kane
- Centre for Exercise Medicine, Physical Activity and Health, Sports and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Belfast, BT15 1ED, UK.
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Ulster University, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 7JL, UK.
| | - Angela Carlin
- Centre for Exercise Medicine, Physical Activity and Health, Sports and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Belfast, BT15 1ED, UK
| | - Ian M Lahart
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, WS1 3BD, UK
| | - Leanne C Doherty
- Centre for Exercise Medicine, Physical Activity and Health, Sports and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Belfast, BT15 1ED, UK
| | - Russell Jago
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PL, UK
| | - Gary McDermott
- Centre for Exercise Medicine, Physical Activity and Health, Sports and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Belfast, BT15 1ED, UK
| | - Maria Faulkner
- Sports Lab North West, Atlantic Technological University, Letterkenny, Ireland
| | - Alison M Gallagher
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
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Sturgeon K, Judd A, Burke T, Foster C, Gibb DM, Le Prevost M, Mhizha W, Tweed CD. Disseminating the research findings from the adolescents and adults living with Perinatal HIV (AALPHI) study: an approach from young people living with HIV. RESEARCH INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT 2024; 10:9. [PMID: 38238837 PMCID: PMC10797962 DOI: 10.1186/s40900-024-00541-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Adolescents and Adults Living with Perinatal HIV (AALPHI) study is one of only three cohort studies worldwide evaluating the impact of HIV on young people living with perinatal HIV (PLHIV) relative to a comparable group of HIV negative young people in close relationship with an HIV positive individual, for example, their mother, sibling or partner. This project aimed to engage young people with the AALPHI study findings, help them take ownership, and decide how they would disseminate the key messages to both study participants and to the wider community. METHODS In brief, 318 PLHIV and 100 HIV negative adolescents participated in AALPHI, where they each were interviewed twice, around two years apart. They were asked a wide range of psychosocial and risk behaviour questions and their cognitive function was assessed. We invited three AALPHI participants and seven members of the Youth Trials Board at the Children's HIV Association (CHIVA) to attend up to four workshops. They were provided with the key AALPHI research findings and asked to develop them into a format that was accessible and understandable for young people. Some who had not participated before formed a group in the fourth dissemination workshop that confirmed the most important concepts and results. RESULTS The young people decided to develop a film and a leaflet about the AALPHI findings and co-produced them with a film maker and graphic designer. Challenges included working with the film maker and the venue for the first three dissemination workshops was an office space which was not ideal. CONCLUSION Engaging young people in the dissemination of the AALPHI findings ensured the results were communicated in a way that was more likely to be relevant, accessible and useful to those affected by the study. This project demonstrates how young people in potentially stigmatised areas of care, such as HIV, can be involved in research dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Sturgeon
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, London, UK.
| | - Ali Judd
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Diana M Gibb
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Warren Mhizha
- Youth Trials Board, London, UK
- Children's HIV Association (CHIVA), Bristol, UK
| | - Conor D Tweed
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, London, UK
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