TY - JOUR
T1 - A cluster-randomized trial comparing two SWITCH implementation support strategies for school wellness intervention effectiveness
AU - Rosenkranz, Richard R.
AU - Dixon, Philip M.
AU - Dzewaltowski, David A.
AU - McLoughlin, Gabriella M.
AU - Lee, Joey A.
AU - Chen, Senlin
AU - Vazou, Spyridoula
AU - Lanningham-Foster, Lorraine M.
AU - Gentile, Doug A.
AU - Welk, Gregory J.
N1 - Funding Information:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) grant: 2015–68001-23242. The USDA was not involved in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data or writing of the manuscript. The authors wish to thank the School Wellness Teams (SWT) who participated in the intervention and led programming. The authors acknowledge the students and staff who helped facilitate data collection and analysis procedures: Andra Luth, Marisa Rosen, Laura C. Liechty, Ann Torbert, and Quinn M. Zuercher (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach), made contributions to the distribution, implementation, and evaluation of SWITCH. RRR helped to conceive the study, led writing of first manuscript draft, contributed to data analysis, and composed tables and figures; PMD led data analysis and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content; DAD helped to conceive the study, contributed to data analysis, and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content; GMM contributed to data collection activities and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content; JAL, SC, SV, LMLF, and DAG helped to conceive the study and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content; GJW led conception of the study, contributed to data analysis, and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript, and agree with the order of presentation of the authors. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - Background: The School Wellness Integration Targeting Child Health (SWITCH) intervention has demonstrated feasibility as an implementation approach to help schools facilitate changes in students’ physical activity (PA), sedentary screen time (SST), and dietary intake (DI). This study evaluated the comparative effectiveness of enhanced (individualized) implementation and standard (group-based) implementation. Methods: Twenty-two Iowa elementary schools participated, with each receiving standardized training (wellness conference and webinars). Schools were matched within region and randomized to receive either individualized or group implementation support. The PA, SST, and DI outcomes of 1097 students were assessed at pre- and post-intervention periods using the Youth Activity Profile. Linear mixed models evaluated differential change in outcomes by condition, for comparative effectiveness, and by gender. Results: Both implementation conditions led to significant improvements in PA and SST over time (p < 0.01), but DI did not improve commensurately (p value range: 0.02‒0.05). There were no differential changes between the group and individualized conditions for PA (p = 0.51), SST (p = 0.19), or DI (p = 0.73). There were no differential effects by gender (i.e., non-significant condition-by-gender interactions) for PA (pfor interaction = 0.86), SST (pfor interaction = 0.46), or DI (pfor interaction = 0.15). Effect sizes for both conditions equated to approximately 6 min more PA per day and approximately 3 min less sedentary time. Conclusion: The observed lack of difference in outcomes suggests that group implementation of SWITCH is equally effective as individualized implementation for building capacity in school wellness programming. Similarly, the lack of interaction by gender suggests that SWITCH can be beneficial for both boys and girls. Additional research is needed to understand the school-level factors that influence implementation (and outcomes) of SWITCH.
AB - Background: The School Wellness Integration Targeting Child Health (SWITCH) intervention has demonstrated feasibility as an implementation approach to help schools facilitate changes in students’ physical activity (PA), sedentary screen time (SST), and dietary intake (DI). This study evaluated the comparative effectiveness of enhanced (individualized) implementation and standard (group-based) implementation. Methods: Twenty-two Iowa elementary schools participated, with each receiving standardized training (wellness conference and webinars). Schools were matched within region and randomized to receive either individualized or group implementation support. The PA, SST, and DI outcomes of 1097 students were assessed at pre- and post-intervention periods using the Youth Activity Profile. Linear mixed models evaluated differential change in outcomes by condition, for comparative effectiveness, and by gender. Results: Both implementation conditions led to significant improvements in PA and SST over time (p < 0.01), but DI did not improve commensurately (p value range: 0.02‒0.05). There were no differential changes between the group and individualized conditions for PA (p = 0.51), SST (p = 0.19), or DI (p = 0.73). There were no differential effects by gender (i.e., non-significant condition-by-gender interactions) for PA (pfor interaction = 0.86), SST (pfor interaction = 0.46), or DI (pfor interaction = 0.15). Effect sizes for both conditions equated to approximately 6 min more PA per day and approximately 3 min less sedentary time. Conclusion: The observed lack of difference in outcomes suggests that group implementation of SWITCH is equally effective as individualized implementation for building capacity in school wellness programming. Similarly, the lack of interaction by gender suggests that SWITCH can be beneficial for both boys and girls. Additional research is needed to understand the school-level factors that influence implementation (and outcomes) of SWITCH.
KW - Children
KW - Implementation science
KW - Obesity prevention
KW - Physical activity
KW - School health
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85126839786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jshs.2021.12.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jshs.2021.12.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 34871789
AN - SCOPUS:85126839786
SN - 2095-2546
VL - 12
SP - 87
EP - 96
JO - Journal of Sport and Health Science
JF - Journal of Sport and Health Science
IS - 1
ER -