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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Bronia Arnott, Professor Vera Araujo-SoaresORCiD, Dr Anil Namdeo, Emerita Professor Elaine McCollORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).
Background: Active travel to school (ATS) can increase children’s levels of physical activity but so far there is limited evidence that ATS interventions are effective. The RIGHT TRACKS pilot study aimed to test the feasibility of an incentive-scheme to increase ATS in Year 5 children. Data collection included weekly child and parental reports of ATS (daily, when by text message), and accelerometers worn by children, in both control and intervention schools, over nine weeks (one week baseline + eight weeks intervention). Objective: The objective of this process evaluation was to obtain additional data on the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and trial procedures of the RIGHT TRACKS study. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted at the end of the pilot study in January and February 2015 (and during the pilot study, in November 2014, in the case of one dropout participant). Participants were from both intervention and control schools and included children, parents, school staff, and other stakeholders. Interviews were voice-recorded, transcribed and theme-analysed. Results: A total of 29 participants were interviewed including children (n=9), parents (n=9), Year 5 teachers (n=6), head teachers (n=2), school receptionists (n=3) and wider stakeholders (n=2). In general, data suggested that participants enjoyed taking part in the RIGHT TRACKS study and engaged with it. However, a number of issues were raised pertaining to recruitment, data collection, and use of incentives. Key recommendations included close collaboration with organisations already working in schools, considering a different range of incentives, and the possibility of running the scheme as a lunchtime activity. Conclusions: Findings support the feasibility and acceptability of an incentive scheme to increase ATS. Additional feasibility work should be carried out prior to a definitive evaluation trial, taking into account the findings and recommendations of this study.active travel to school; children; school; accelerometer; incentives; qualitative process evaluation
Author(s): Ginja S, Arnott B, Araujo-Soares V, Namdeo A, McColl E
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Transport and Health
Year: 2019
Volume: 15
Print publication date: 01/12/2019
Online publication date: 11/10/2019
Acceptance date: 04/10/2019
Date deposited: 14/10/2019
ISSN (print): 2214-1405
ISSN (electronic): 2214-1413
Publisher: Elsevier
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2019.100663
DOI: 10.1016/j.jth.2019.100663
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