The Integration of a Data Sharing Process to Address Out-of-School Time Physical Activity,Locomotor Skills,and Program Leader Behavior: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Children are not meeting the physical activity (PA) minutes recommendation. Due to this, new and innovative approaches are needed to address child inactivity. Motor competence is associated with PA and fitness in children, and could potentially be targeted to increase child PA. Addressing PA outside of school hours has become an increasingly popular intervention strategy in providing additional minutes of PA. However, limited staff have training and a background in creating active environments. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to implement a data sharing process with program leaders to address leader PA promoting practices, child PA minutes, and locomotor skills. We implemented a data sharing process with an out-of-school time (OST) program in a midwestern town. The data sharing process involved collecting baseline information on students’ PA (accelerometer), locomotor skills (TGMD-3), and staff PA promoting behavior (systematic observation). In total (n = 5) sites were included and n = 45 children participated in the study. In addition, site leaders (n = 5) for each location were provided with a real-time data sharing intervention. Results from the data sharing intervention indicated increased staff PA promoting behaviors. There was a statistically significant increase in locomotor skills from baseline for boys. There was no significant increase in moderate-to-vigorous PA minutes during programming. The implementation of a data sharing intervention is a promising strategy in addressing OST staff PA promoting behaviors, child PA, and locomotor skills.