TY - JOUR
T1 - Fitness for life primary
T2 - stakeholders' perceptions
AU - Hodges, Michael Gary
AU - Kulinna, Pamela
AU - Kloeppel, Tiffany Ann
N1 - Funding Information:
Research funding was provided by Edwards Lifesciences, LLC.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2014, © 2014 Association for Physical Education.
PY - 2015/5/4
Y1 - 2015/5/4
N2 - Background: Currently, obesity is one major pressing health concern for children, with physical inactivity being one main contributor. Schools are an excellent venue to provide pupils with opportunities for physical activity; however, schools are in need of user-friendly intervention programs that increase pupil activity and healthy behavior knowledge.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine primary stakeholders' perceptions of a recently developed comprehensive healthy behavior program, Fitness for Life: Elementary. Methods: Parents (N = 342), pupils (N = 328), and school staff (N = 24) completed a previously validated survey questionnaire. A smaller group of school staff (n = 7) also participated in formal interviews.Results: Survey mean data indicated that average reactions from the participating stakeholders were positive. Classroom teachers who chose to participate had mostly positive reflections with three major themes identified: (a) teacher and pupil buy-in, (b) minimal teacher training, and (c) supportive administration.Conclusions: Teacher training and pupil reinforcement were two key factors that positively affected participants' reported fidelity to the program. Although, at first, some classroom teachers chose not to participate, additional classroom teachers joined the project over time. Favorable ratings of the curriculum suggested that busy classroom teachers could implement physical activity programs using ‘wellness weeks’ into the classroom when provided with appropriate materials and support.
AB - Background: Currently, obesity is one major pressing health concern for children, with physical inactivity being one main contributor. Schools are an excellent venue to provide pupils with opportunities for physical activity; however, schools are in need of user-friendly intervention programs that increase pupil activity and healthy behavior knowledge.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine primary stakeholders' perceptions of a recently developed comprehensive healthy behavior program, Fitness for Life: Elementary. Methods: Parents (N = 342), pupils (N = 328), and school staff (N = 24) completed a previously validated survey questionnaire. A smaller group of school staff (n = 7) also participated in formal interviews.Results: Survey mean data indicated that average reactions from the participating stakeholders were positive. Classroom teachers who chose to participate had mostly positive reflections with three major themes identified: (a) teacher and pupil buy-in, (b) minimal teacher training, and (c) supportive administration.Conclusions: Teacher training and pupil reinforcement were two key factors that positively affected participants' reported fidelity to the program. Although, at first, some classroom teachers chose not to participate, additional classroom teachers joined the project over time. Favorable ratings of the curriculum suggested that busy classroom teachers could implement physical activity programs using ‘wellness weeks’ into the classroom when provided with appropriate materials and support.
KW - activity
KW - intervention
KW - perceptions
KW - primary
KW - school-based
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84928755760&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84928755760&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17408989.2014.893287
DO - 10.1080/17408989.2014.893287
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84928755760
SN - 1740-8989
VL - 20
SP - 299
EP - 313
JO - Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy
JF - Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy
IS - 3
ER -