289240
Increasing physical activity in schools through a model schools program in Hawaii
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
: 9:10 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Stephanie Lee, MPH,
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
Hyun-Hee Heo, MA,
Department of Public Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
Jennifer Ryan, MPH,
Healthy Hawaii Initiative, State of Hawaii Department of Health, Honolulu, HI
Jay Maddock, PhD,
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawai'i Manoa, Honolulu, HI
BACKGROUND: The State of Hawaii Departments of Health and Education developed a three-year Model Schools program in which seven schools agreed to enhance their physical education (PE) curricula and increase opportunities for physical activity (PA) during non-instructional time. The objective was to assess the amount of PA in schools and to identify if PA policies and guidelines are being implemented in schools. METHODOLOGY: This study utilizes standardized observation tools (SOFIT/SOPLAY), a pre/post student survey, and an annual survey for principals to determine students' activity levels during PE and non-instructional time (e.g., recess). RESULTS: Principals at all seven schools reported meeting the recommended instructional minutes for PE. Only one school did not offer 20 minutes of daily supervised recess and one school withheld PA as punishment. Baseline student surveys (n~1000) indicated that most students enjoy PE and feel good about themselves after working hard in PE. SOFIT results showed that three out of seven schools met the recommended minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in Year 1, but this decreased to two schools in Year 2. SOPLAY data revealed that most students were sedentary during non-instructional time. CONCLUSION: Although students' attitudes towards PE were positive and principals self-reported meeting instructional minutes, observational data showed that most schools did not meet recommended MVPA levels. No major changes were identified in PA levels over time, but it is hoped that at the end of the Model Schools program, these schools will be able to share their best practices for increasing PA opportunities.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related education
Learning Objectives:
Identify students’ physical activity levels before, during, and after school (SOPLAY data).
Determine how active students are during physical education class (SOFIT data).
Assess students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards physical education and determine whether physical activity policies are being implemented in schools (Survey data).
Keyword(s): Physical Activity, School Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My academic and research interests include smoking cessation and the promotion of physical activity and nutrition. In my current position as school evaluation coordinator, I work in partnership with the State Department of Health and Department of Education. I also serve as principal investigator for 5 state and federally funded public health contracts. In the past 5 years, I have contributed to seven presentations at local and national conferences (including APHA last year).
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
