Have Danish NEET schools implemented a whole-school approach to physical activity? A national cross-sectional survey

Short Oral

Abstract Overview

Background: The Health Promoting School (HPS) approach is a whole-school approach – recognized as an effective way of enhancing health promotion. The HPS entails working with health across the curriculum, politics, ethos, physical environment; also building on community participation and use of data and evidence to strengthen practices. A Whole-School approach to Physical Activity (WSPA) relies on HPS principles but is focused on PA.

Purpose: Using a recently validated survey-tool, this cross-sectional study investigates WSPA implementation and its correlates at Danish preparatory basic education and training schools. These school enroll vulnerable youth (ages 16 to 25, mean age 17) who were Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) prior to enrolment.

Methods: All Danish schools enrolling NEET youth, were invited to participate in an electronic survey measuring WSPA implementation. The survey was administered to all teachers during fall 2023. The WSPA survey consists of 23 items (5-point Likert scales) and is operationalized into five domains. Descriptive statistics were used to assess implementation and identify correlates.
Results: 92,5% of schools and 1035 teachers (response rate 71.8%) participated. High implementation levels were found for domain 3; Quality of delivery (mean 3.50, SD 0.60) and domain 4; Core values (mean 3.43, SD 0.65). Medium score for domain 1; Collaboration and engagement (mean 2.99, SD 0.74) and low scores for domain 2; Integration of PA into school days (mean 2.41, SD 1.07) and Resources (2.56, SD 0.82). Having a PA policy was correlated with higher scores across all domains (p<0,001).

Conclusions: Implementation of WSPA varied across domains – with lower scores related to integration of PA into school days and resources. Having a PA policy was correlated with better implementation of WSPA.

Practical implications: The WSPA survey can be used to identify strengths and room for improvement.

Funding: The Danish Heart Foundation.

Additional Authors

Name: Johanne Triantafyllou Lorenzen
Affiliation: Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
Presenting Author: no
Name: Sofie Rolff Carlsen
Affiliation: Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
Presenting Author: no
Name: Anneke Vang Hjort
Affiliation: Centre for Childhood Health
Presenting Author: no

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Information

Study Type: Measurement or surveillance
Subtheme: Implementation science
Population Group: Adolescents, Adults, Disadvantaged groups
Setting: School, Whole System

Submitting Author

Charlotte Klinker
Research group leader, senior researcher
Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
Denmark

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