Evaluating a Physical Activity Program for Rural Middle School Students
Author Information
Author(s): Megan M. Kwaiser, Andew M. Medellin, Janette M. Watkins, Janelle M. Goss, James M. Hobson, Vanessa M. Kercher, Kyle A. Kercher
Primary Institution: Indiana University
Hypothesis
The implementation of the Hoosier Sport program will be feasible and delivered as intended.
Conclusion
The study results demonstrate successful feasibility, high fidelity, and promising system-level acceptability of the Hoosier Sport program.
Supporting Evidence
- All feasibility measures met or exceeded the a priori threshold, indicating high success.
- Fidelity was high among college student implementers and child participants.
- SOSPAN showed that staff engaged in physical activity 62.5% of the time and provided verbal encouragement 87.5% of the time.
- SOFIT revealed significant promotion of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, with 94% during strength training and 95% during basketball.
Takeaway
This study shows that a program using college students to help middle school kids be more active can work well, especially in rural areas.
Methodology
The study used a multi-component evaluation approach guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to assess feasibility outcomes.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the lack of open communication among team members and differing opinions on the need for change.
Limitations
The study was a pilot with a small sample size and lacked a control group, limiting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 33 middle school children (6th and 7th graders) from a rural school, with demographic data on age, gender, and race/ethnicity collected.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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