Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Co-Designed Physical Activity Intervention for Rural Middle Schoolers: A Pilot Study

Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Co-Designed Physical Activity Intervention for Rural Middle Schoolers: A Pilot Study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Co-Designed Physical Activity Intervention for Rural Middle Schoolers: A Pilot Study Janette M. Watkins, Julia E. Brunnemer, Kathleen N. Heeter, Andrew M. Medellin, and 7 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3837825/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 14 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background This study assesses the effectiveness of a physical activity intervention using a human-centered participatory co-design in a rural community. In collaboration with a campus-community partnership, the intervention involves children in the design process to address declining physical activity levels among middle school students. The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility of this innovative intervention. Methods Twenty-four middle school students participated in a mixed-methods pre-post intervention during physical education classes. The inclusive intervention included elements like sport-based youth development, individualized goal setting, physical activity monitoring, pedometer usage, and health education. Data were collected at baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T3), with intermediate measures during the intervention (T2). Analytical methods encompassed descriptive statistics, correlations, repeated measures ANOVA, and thematic analysis. Qualitative data were integrated through semi-structured interviews. Results Key findings indicate robust feasibility, with intervention-related scores (FIM, AIM, and IAM) consistently surpassing the "good" threshold and 100% retention and recruitment success. Additionally, participants showed significant physical performance improvement, shifting from the 25th to the 50th percentile in the 6-minute walk test (p < 0.05). Autonomy and competence remained high, reflecting positive perceptions of program practicality. Nutrition knowledge, initially low, significantly improved post-intervention (p < 0.01), highlighting the efficacy of targeted nutritional education in Hoosier Sport. Conclusions This study pioneers a community-focused model for physical activity intervention in under-resourced rural settings. Positive participant feedback, coupled with improvements in physical fitness and psychosocial factors, highlights the potential of the co-design approach. The findings offer valuable insights and a practical template for future community-based research, signaling the promising impact of such interventions on holistic well-being. This research lays the foundation for subsequent phases of the ORBIT model, emphasizing collaborative, community-driven approaches to address the complex issue of declining physical activity levels among adolescents. XXX youth sport-based youth development cardiovascular disease multilevel intervention physical activity feasibility testing Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files ttesttable.xlsx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 08 May, 2024 Reviews received at journal 04 Apr, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 01 Apr, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Mar, 2024 Reviews received at journal 02 Mar, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 20 Feb, 2024 Reviews received at journal 04 Feb, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Jan, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Jan, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 14 Jan, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 14 Jan, 2024 Editor invited by journal 14 Jan, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 14 Jan, 2024 First submitted to journal 05 Jan, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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In collaboration with a campus-community partnership, the intervention involves children in the design process to address declining physical activity levels among middle school students. The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility of this innovative intervention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTwenty-four middle school students participated in a mixed-methods pre-post intervention during physical education classes. The inclusive intervention included elements like sport-based youth development, individualized goal setting, physical activity monitoring, pedometer usage, and health education. Data were collected at baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T3), with intermediate measures during the intervention (T2). Analytical methods encompassed descriptive statistics, correlations, repeated measures ANOVA, and thematic analysis. Qualitative data were integrated through semi-structured interviews.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eKey findings indicate robust feasibility, with intervention-related scores (FIM, AIM, and IAM) consistently surpassing the \"good\" threshold and 100% retention and recruitment success. Additionally, participants showed significant physical performance improvement, shifting from the 25th to the 50th percentile in the 6-minute walk test (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Autonomy and competence remained high, reflecting positive perceptions of program practicality. Nutrition knowledge, initially low, significantly improved post-intervention (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01), highlighting the efficacy of targeted nutritional education in Hoosier Sport.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study pioneers a community-focused model for physical activity intervention in under-resourced rural settings. Positive participant feedback, coupled with improvements in physical fitness and psychosocial factors, highlights the potential of the co-design approach. The findings offer valuable insights and a practical template for future community-based research, signaling the promising impact of such interventions on holistic well-being. This research lays the foundation for subsequent phases of the ORBIT model, emphasizing collaborative, community-driven approaches to address the complex issue of declining physical activity levels among adolescents.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Co-Designed Physical Activity Intervention for Rural Middle Schoolers: A Pilot Study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-01-18 15:18:02","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3837825/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2024-05-08T14:46:52+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2024-04-04T17:45:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"047d13c0-bd9a-4df8-bf27-21d691c50d06","date":"2024-04-01T15:44:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"265cd207-edf5-4c1b-b518-c05282a76076","date":"2024-03-04T09:37:42+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2024-03-02T20:59:41+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"3d627854-756a-417d-a481-8e06af8b769e","date":"2024-02-20T19:53:57+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2024-02-04T19:26:21+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"28b80d5c-fe00-4f3f-a833-e494846f2474","date":"2024-01-19T10:35:02+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"e1c5a71a-6736-4b64-9d9b-e77b5a4baa61","date":"2024-01-14T18:27:59+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2024-01-14T08:19:02+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-01-14T08:00:43+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2024-01-14T07:27:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-01-14T07:23:07+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Public Health","date":"2024-01-05T17:02:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"pubh","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Public Health](http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/pubh/default.aspx","title":"BMC Public Health","twitterHandle":"@BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"afeaab48-8594-426d-9c8a-6c24dfc1ea7b","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 18th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-07-03T12:36:37+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-01-18 15:18:02","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-3837825","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-3837825","identity":"rs-3837825","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}