IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v21y2024i12p1645-d1540530.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluation of a Pilot College Student-Based Physical Activity Implementation Strategy in a Rural Middle School

Author

Listed:
  • Megan M. Kwaiser

    (Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Andrew M. Medellin

    (Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Janette M. Watkins

    (Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
    Program in Neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Janelle M. Goss

    (Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • James M. Hobson

    (White River Valley Middle School, Lyons, IN 47433, USA)

  • Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher

    (Department of Health & Wellness Design, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Kyle A. Kercher

    (Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity in the U.S. poses a significant risk of developing chronic health factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Children from rural communities are especially vulnerable to inactivity. The Hoosier Sport program aims to address this by working to increase physical activity in 6th and 7th grade students in a rural Indiana middle school. Hoosier Sport uses sport participation coupled with health education delivered by college-service learning students to establish healthy behaviors that children can sustain throughout their life. The purpose of this prospective longitudinal study was to evaluate the implementation of Hoosier Sport in a rural middle school, using a multi-component evaluation approach. Methods: This prospective program evaluation study utilized The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to assess feasibility outcomes such as recruitment, retention, fidelity, attendance, acceptability, and cost. CFIR was incorporated through surveys completed by Hoosier Sport team members to identify facilitators and barriers. Fidelity was measured using SOSPAN and SOFIT tools. SOSPAN (System for Observation of Staff Promotion of Activity and Nutrition) monitored staff interactions with children during physical education classes. SOFIT (System of Observing Fitness Instruction Time) evaluated the duration and type of activities in each lesson context. For our descriptive analysis, we calculated means and standard deviation for continuous variables and percentages for categorical variables. Results: All feasibility measures met or exceeded the a priori threshold, indicating high success. Fidelity was high among college student implementers and child participants. SOSPAN showed that staff did not use physical activity as punishment, engaged in physical activity 62.5% of the time, provided verbal encouragement 87.5% of the time, and used elimination games only 2.5% of the time. SOFIT revealed significant promotion of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, with 94% during the 4-week strength training intervention and 95% during the 4-week basketball intervention. The barrier buster tool identified general agreement with most statements, indicating promising system-level acceptability. Conclusion: The study results demonstrate successful feasibility, high fidelity, and promising system-level acceptability. These findings underscore the importance of continued refinement and repeated evaluation of the program in alignment with the ORBIT model. The use of college student implementers presents a sustainable model that benefits all participants involved.

Suggested Citation

  • Megan M. Kwaiser & Andrew M. Medellin & Janette M. Watkins & Janelle M. Goss & James M. Hobson & Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher & Kyle A. Kercher, 2024. "Evaluation of a Pilot College Student-Based Physical Activity Implementation Strategy in a Rural Middle School," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(12), pages 1-16, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:12:p:1645-:d:1540530
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/12/1645/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/12/1645/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Janette M. Watkins & Janelle M. Goss & McKenna G. Major & Megan M. Kwaiser & Andrew M. Medellin & James M. Hobson & Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher & Kyle A. Kercher, 2024. "Refined Feasibility Testing of an 8-Week Sport and Physical Activity Intervention in a Rural Middle School," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Ilona Bidzan-Bluma & Małgorzata Lipowska, 2018. "Physical Activity and Cognitive Functioning of Children: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Aaron P. Wood & Vincenzo G. Nocera & Tyler J. Kybartas & Dawn P. Coe, 2020. "Physical Activity and Cognitive Aspects of Self-Regulation in Preschool-Aged Children: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Manuel Ávila-García & María Esojo-Rivas & Emilio Villa-González & Pablo Tercedor & Francisco Javier Huertas-Delgado, 2021. "Relationship between Sedentary Time, Physical Activity, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Spanish Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    3. Junghyae Lee & John Hoornbeek & Namkyung Oh, 2020. "Social Cognitive Orientations, Social Support, and Physical Activity among at-Risk Urban Children: Insights from a Structural Equation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Falonn Contreras-Osorio & Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo & Enrique Cerda-Vega & Rodrigo Campos-Jara & Cristian Martínez-Salazar & Rodrigo Araneda & Daniela Ebner-Karestinos & Cristián Arellano-Roco & Christ, 2022. "Effects of Sport-Based Exercise Interventions on Executive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-19, October.
    5. Falonn Contreras-Osorio & Iris Paola Guzmán-Guzmán & Enrique Cerda-Vega & Luis Chirosa-Ríos & Rodrigo Ramírez-Campillo & Christian Campos-Jara, 2022. "Effects of the Type of Sports Practice on the Executive Functions of Schoolchildren," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Zeljka Karin & Barbara Gilic & Daniela Supe Domic & Zdenko Sarac & Katarina Ercegovic & Natasa Zenic & Ognjen Uljevic & Mia Peric & Josko Markic, 2018. "Vitamin D Status and Analysis of Specific Correlates in Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southern Croatia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, November.
    7. Ana R. Alves & Renata Dias & Henrique P. Neiva & Daniel A. Marinho & Mário C. Marques & António C. Sousa & Vânia Loureiro & Nuno Loureiro, 2021. "High-Intensity Interval Training upon Cognitive and Psychological Outcomes in Youth: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    8. Gaye Erkmen Hadi & Mehmet DenktaÅŸ, 2023. "An Investigation of the Relationship among High School Students' Self-Regulation, Free Time Management, and Self-Esteem," Journal of Education and Training Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 11(4), pages 60-72, October.
    9. Francisco José Borrego-Balsalobre & Alfonso Martínez-Moreno & Vicente Morales-Baños & Arturo Díaz-Suárez, 2021. "Influence of the Psychomotor Profile in the Improvement of Learning in Early Childhood Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-12, November.
    10. Ismarulyusda Ishak & Nurul Najwa Abdul Rahim & Noor Idaya Salim & Cut Ulfah Nihayati Sholeha Teuku Husaini & Izzati Jamaludin & Hafidzoh Mohamad Khalid & Nur Adeena Ahmad Lutfi & Sayyidah Syathiroh Af, 2022. "Development and Validation of Huffaz ProHealth 1.0 © : A Module to Improve the Well-Being of Tahfiz Students in Selangor, Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, June.
    11. James R. Rudd & Laura O’Callaghan & Jacqueline Williams, 2019. "Physical Education Pedagogies Built upon Theories of Movement Learning: How Can Environmental Constraints Be Manipulated to Improve Children’s Executive Function and Self-Regulation Skills?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-8, May.
    12. Natalia Kajka & Agnieszka Kulik, 2021. "The Influence of Metacognitive Strategies on the Improvement of Reaction Inhibition Processes in Children with ADHD," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-9, January.
    13. Anna Kawalec & Krystyna Pawlas, 2021. "Familial Correlates of Leisure Time Activities among Polish Early School-Age Children: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-13, April.
    14. Giselle O’Connor & Jordi Julvez & Silvia Fernandez-Barrés & Eva Mᵃ Navarrete-Muñoz & Mario Murcia & Adonina Tardón & Isolina Riaño Galán & Pilar Amiano & Jesús Ibarluzea & Raquel Garcia-Esteban & Mart, 2020. "Association of Lifestyle Factors and Neuropsychological Development of 4-Year-Old Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-11, August.
    15. Madlene Movia & Sandra Macher & Gabriele Antony & Verena Zeuschner & Gabriela Wamprechtsamer & Judith delle Grazie & Helmut Simi & Bianca Fuchs-Neuhold, 2022. "Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of a Daily Physical Activity Unit in Schools: Focus on Children and Adolescents in Austria Up to the 8th Grade," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-10, May.
    16. Rosario Padial-Ruz & Mª Esther Puga-González & Álvaro Céspedes-Jiménez & David Cabello-Manrique, 2021. "Determining Factors in the Use of Urban Parks That Influence the Practice of Physical Activity in Children: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-23, March.
    17. Francesca Latino & Francesco Tafuri, 2023. "Physical Activity and Academic Performance in School-Age Children: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, April.
    18. Raquel Pérez-Ordás & Javier Piñeiro-Cossio & Óscar Díaz-Chica & Ester Ayllón-Negrillo, 2022. "Relevant Variables in the Stimulation of Psychological Well-Being in Physical Education: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-26, July.
    19. J. Celse, 2025. "Athletes vs. Musicians: Perceptions and Preferences in Workplace Social Programs," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 46(2), pages 1029-1039, March.
    20. McKenna G. Major & Janette M. Watkins & Janelle M. Goss & Derek W. Craig & Zack Waggoner & Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher & Kyle A. Kercher, 2024. "Intervention Mapping for Refining a Sport-Based Public Health Intervention in Rural Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(12), pages 1-14, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:12:p:1645-:d:1540530. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.