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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Brian Cole, DrPH¹, Sarah Stone-Francisco, MPH², Antronette Yancey, MD, MPH¹, and William McCarthy, PhD¹. (1) Department of Health Services, UCLA School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, 310-206-4253, blcole@ucla.edu, (2) Samuels & Associates, 663 13th st, 3rd floor, Oakland, CA 94612

PURPOSE: To describe the findings from an assessment of student activity levels assessed during physical education (PE) classes at 19 schools participating in The California Endowment Healthy Eating, Active Communities (HEAC) Initiative. The presentation will discuss the methods used, findings, and how these findings can be applied to improve the quality of physical education classes. METHODS: Evaluators of the HEAC initiative adapted San Diego State University's SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time) method for assessing physical activity levels during PE classes. The adapted SOFIT requires direct observation of PE classes to assess student activity levels, which are measured by recording and coding student activity at 10 second intervals, rotating between four representative students. Reliability of the original SOFIT has been validated by heart rate and accelerometers. The adapted SOFIT was implemented in 37 PE classes in elementary, middle and high schools. FINDINGS: Baseline data from the adapted SOFIT revealed that the majority of PE classes observed spent less than half of their time in moderate to vigorous physical activity, and that the average physical activity level across classes was equivalent to standing still. The baseline findings will be used by the HEAC schools to support efforts to improve the quality of PE classes and assure that students are physically active during PE.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to

• Describe the adapted SOFIT method for assessing physical activity levels during physical education classes.
• Discuss the types of results the adapted SOFIT yields.
• Discuss how results from the adapted SOFIT assessment can inform strategies to improve the quality of physical education classes.

Keywords: Nutrition, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation