Comparative Effectiveness of After-School Programs to Increase Physical Activity

• Main Authors: Sabina B. Gesell (Author), Evan C. Sommer (Author), E. Warren Lambert (Author), Ana Regina Vides de Andrade (Author), Lauren Whitaker (Author), Lauren Davis (Author), Bettina M. Beech (Author), Stephanie J. Mitchell (Author), Nkiruka Arinze (Author), Stevon Neloms (Author), Colleen K. Ryan (Author), Shari L. Barkin (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Hindawi Limited, 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Background. We conducted a comparative effectiveness analysis to evaluate the difference in the amount of physical activity children engaged in when enrolled in a physical activity-enhanced after-school program based in a community recreation center versus a standard school-based after-school program. Methods. The study was a natural experiment with 54 elementary school children attending the community ASP and 37 attending the school-based ASP. Accelerometry was used to measure physical activity. Data were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks, with 91% retention. Results. At baseline, 43% of the multiethnic sample was overweight/obese, and the mean age was 7.9 years (SD = 1.7). Linear latent growth models suggested that the average difference between the two groups of children at Week 12 was 14.7 percentage points in moderate-vigorous physical activity (P<.001). Cost analysis suggested that children attending traditional school-based ASPs-at an average cost of $17.67 per day-would need an additional daily investment of $1.59 per child for 12 weeks to increase their moderate-vigorous physical activity by a model-implied 14.7 percentage points. Conclusions. A low-cost, alternative after-school program featuring adult-led physical activities in a community recreation center was associated with increased physical activity compared to standard-of-care school-based after-school program.

Item Description

2090-0708
2090-0716
10.1155/2013/576821