Implementation and effectiveness of the TransformUs primary school physical activity intervention at scale
Abstract Overview
Background
Efficacious school-based physical activity (PA) initiatives are rarely adapted for implementation at scale.
Purpose
The aim of this study was to determine the implementation and effectiveness of the TransformUs program on children’s PA, sedentary time, adiposity and quality of life (QoL) at scale.
Methods
TransformUs was offered to all 1740 primary schools in Victoria Australia (mid-2018 to 2022). Urban and regional schools in Victoria and NSW (controls) were recruited. Children in grades 3/4 wore an accelerometer for 1 week at baseline, 12- and 24-mths, and completed implementation surveys at 12- and 24-mths. Primary outcomes were children’s daily average minutes in moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) and sedentary time. Body mass index (BMI) z-scores (height and weight), waist circumference (WC) and QoL were secondary outcomes. Linear mixed effects models accounting for clustering within schools, confounding and random effects examined intervention outcomes.
Results
Twenty-one primary schools were recruited in Victoria (72% government, 65% urban) and 19 in NSW (42% government, 92% urban). A total of n=725 (50% girls) intervention and n=493 (49% girls) control children provided valid accelerometer data at baseline. There were no significant effects on children’s daily mins sedentary time, or on BMI z-scores or WC. At 12-mths, there was an unfavourable intervention effect on children’s daily mins MVPA (-4.86, 95%CI: -8.77, -0.95, p=0.015), with no effect at 24-mths. At 24-mths there was an unfavourable overall QoL score. Similar percentages of children reported that they received the program in intervention and control schools.
Conclusions
There were no significant effects of the TransformUs intervention delivered under ‘real world’ conditions. Victorian school children experienced 267 days of home schooling in 2020-2021 (COVID-19).
Practical Implications
More research is needed to understand the process of scale-up and implementation to ensure programs are delivering outcomes as intended at scale.
Funding
NHMRC Partnership Grant (APP1115708)
Additional Authors
Name: Anna Timperio
Affiliation: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
Presenting Author: no
Name: Natalie Lander
Affiliation: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
Presenting Author: no
Name: Harriet Koorts
Affiliation: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
Presenting Author: no
Name: Chris Lonsdale
Affiliation: Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University
Presenting Author: no
Name: Nicola Ridgers
Affiliation: Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), University of South Australia
Presenting Author: no
Name: David Lubans
Affiliation: Centre for Active Living and Learning, The University of Newcastle
Presenting Author: no
Name: Adrian Bauman
Affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Sydney
Presenting Author: no
Name: Amanda Telford
Affiliation: National School of Education, Australian Catholic University
Presenting Author: no
Name: Lisa Barnett
Affiliation: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
Presenting Author: no
Name: Karen Lamb
Affiliation: Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne
Presenting Author: no
Information
Study Type: Intervention
Subtheme: Implementation science
Population Group: Children
Setting: School
Submitting Author
Jo Salmon
Director, Alfred Deakin Professor
Deakin University
Australia
