Academic Performance; Primary Prevention; Physical ActivityASKNCT02132494
Active Smarter Kids: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial
A study testing Physical activity in people with Academic Performance; Primary Prevention; Physical Activity, run by Western Norway University of Applied Sciences at 1 site in Norway.
Trial summary
The relationship between physical activity and academic performance has received widespread attention owing to the pressure on schools to graduate pupils who meet accepted academic standards. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 8 to 11 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Academic Performance; Primary Prevention; Physical Activity
- What is being tested?
- Physical activity
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 1,202 participants
- Where
- 1 siteNorway
- Study dates
- Mar 2014to Jun 2015
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 8 to 11 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- all children attending 5th grade at the invited schools in Sogn og Fjordane county (Norway) during the school-year 2014/2015
Who cannot join
- those children whom for language barriers are unable to perform national tests in Numeracy, Norwegian and English
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Norway1 site
Sogn og Fjordane University College
Sogndal, Sogn Og Fjordane, 6851
About this study
Official title: Active Smarter Kids: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effect of Daily Physical Activity on Children's Academic Performance and on Risk Factors for Lifestyle-related Non-communicable Diseases
The relationship between physical activity and academic performance has received widespread attention owing to the pressure on schools to graduate pupils who meet accepted academic standards. As important, there are global concerns regarding the increased prevalence of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). First, Norway has a history of mediocre scores on international comparative academic performance tests such as Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) [1]. It is therefore important to develop and evaluate strategic programs that may enhance pupil's academic performance. It is increasingly evident that a physical activity strategy that brings about enhanced cognitive function, better blood flow, and more, plays a key role in this effort [2]. Second, the prevalence of NCDs, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, is increasing worldwide, and such NCDs affect people of all ages [3]. Hence, healthcare costs are escalating to unaffordable levels. The best means to deal with this immense problem is through primary prevention, and physical activity is a powerful common denominator known to play a key role in preventing a host of NCDs [4].
Consequently, both World Health Organization (WHO) and the Norwegian health authorities call for effective primary prevention strategies to promote physical activity in children and adolescents [5, 6]. Prop. 90 L (2010-2011) Act on public health work [6] emphasizes that physical activity in school can benefit both the learning process and public health prevention.
Read more
Therefore, the objective of the ASK-study is to investigate the effects on academic performance of 60 minutes of daily physical activity during one school year. Furthermore, due to the complexity in the relationship between physical activity and academic performance, it is necessary to identify possible mediating and moderating variables as cognitive performance, quality of life (QoL), classroom behavior, motor skills and motivation. Also, we aim to investigate changes in risk factors related to NCDs and factors that influence NSDs, such as physical activity, sedentary behavior and health-related fitness.
In addition a qualitative part of the ASK-Study will be conducted to get an in-depth understanding of the children's embodied experiences and the meaning of the social learning culture in school physical activity (PA). This will give us an in-depth description of the intervention context, offer insight in how the intervention possibly influences children's overall development and enables us to estimate potential long term effects of the intervention.
If successful, the ASK cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) could provide much needed solutions to enhancing schoolchildren's academic performance and position the school as an effective setting for a massive public health intervention concerning the prevention of NCDs.
- Being tested
- Physical activity
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Physical activityBehavioural
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Physical activity | Experimental | 60 minutes of daily physical activity during one school year Receives: Behavioral: Physical activity |
| Control | No intervention | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Academic performance
Academic performance will be measured by Norwegian "national tests" in Numeracy, Norwegian and English
Measured: October 2014 - June 2015 (8 months)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Risk factors for lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
We will measure physical activity, sedentary behavior, health-related physical fitness, measures of adiposity, blood pressure and biomarkers for metabolic health
Measured: August 2014 - June 2015 (10 months)
Executive functions
Inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility will be assessed by pen-and-paper testing
Measured: August 2014 - June 2015 (10 months)
Qualitative study of embodied experiences and interpersonal relations
Qualitative methods will be used to explore how children act in the context of physical education and the ASK-intervention, and how their experiences are constructed in the interaction between individual and social factors. We will also explore to what extent children are capable to reflect over their bodily and social experiences.
Measured: August 2014 - June 2015 (10 months)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 May 2014 (estimated)
- Study startMar 2014
- Primary completionJun 2015
- Study completionJun 2015
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (20)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Academic Performance; Primary Prevention; Physical ActivityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 1,202 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Research Council of Norway
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Eivind Aadland, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
- Investigators
- Sigmund A Anderssen, PhD, Principal investigator, Sogn og Fjordande University College
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02132494
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HISF_2014
- Other IDs
- 2013/1893
- Acronym
- ASK
- Status last verified
- Oct 2019
- First submitted
- 7 Apr 2014
- Last updated
- 2 Oct 2019
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Publications
1. Kjærnsli, M., Tid for tunge løft: norske elevers kompetanse i naturfag, lesing og matematikk i PISA 2006. 2007, Oslo: Universitetsforl.
Singh A, Uijtdewilligen L, Twisk JW, van Mechelen W, Chinapaw MJ. Physical activity and performance at school: a systematic review of the literature including a methodological quality assessment. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012 Jan;166(1):49-55. doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.716.
PubMed 222137503. WHO, World Health Organization. Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: implementation of the global strategy. 2008, WHO: Geneva.
4. WHO, World Health Organization [cited 2013 15.08]; Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/disease-prevention/physical-activity/facts-and-figures/10-key-facts-on-physical-activity-in-the-who-european-region. 2011, WHO.
5. WHO, World Health Organization. Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. 57th World Health Assembly. 2004, WHO: Geneva.
6. PttSL, (2010-2011) Act on public health work.Lov om Folkehelsearbeid. 2010
Jones PR, Rajalahti T, Resaland GK, Aadland E, Steene-Johannessen J, Anderssen SA, Bathen TF, Andreassen T, Kvalheim OM, Ekelund U. Associations of lipoprotein particle profile and objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in schoolchildren: a prospective cohort study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022 Jan 21;19(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01244-w.
PubMed 35062967Rajalahti T, Aadland E, Resaland GK, Anderssen SA, Kvalheim OM. Influence of adiposity and physical activity on the cardiometabolic association pattern of lipoprotein subclasses to aerobic fitness in prepubertal children. PLoS One. 2021 Nov 18;16(11):e0259901. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259901. eCollection 2021.
PubMed 34793516Stavnsbo M, Aadland E, Anderssen SA, Chinapaw M, Steene-Johannessen J, Andersen LB, Resaland GK. Effects of the Active Smarter Kids (ASK) physical activity intervention on cardiometabolic risk factors in children: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. Prev Med. 2020 Jan;130:105868. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105868. Epub 2019 Oct 22.
PubMed 31654725Aadland E, Kvalheim OM, Anderssen SA, Resaland GK, Andersen LB. Multicollinear physical activity accelerometry data and associations to cardiometabolic health: challenges, pitfalls, and potential solutions. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2019 Aug 27;16(1):74. doi: 10.1186/s12966-019-0836-z.
PubMed 31455305Aadland E, Kvalheim OM, Anderssen SA, Resaland GK, Andersen LB. The multivariate physical activity signature associated with metabolic health in children. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2018 Aug 15;15(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s12966-018-0707-z.
PubMed 30111365Aadland E, Andersen LB, Ekelund U, Anderssen SA, Resaland GK. Reproducibility of domain-specific physical activity over two seasons in children. BMC Public Health. 2018 Jul 3;18(1):821. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5743-8.
PubMed 29970050Aadland KN, Aadland E, Andersen JR, Lervag A, Moe VF, Resaland GK, Ommundsen Y. Executive Function, Behavioral Self-Regulation, and School Related Well-Being Did Not Mediate the Effect of School-Based Physical Activity on Academic Performance in Numeracy in 10-Year-Old Children. The Active Smarter Kids (ASK) Study. Front Psychol. 2018 Feb 28;9:245. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00245. eCollection 2018.
PubMed 29541050Aadland E, Andersen LB, Anderssen SA, Resaland GK. A comparison of 10 accelerometer non-wear time criteria and logbooks in children. BMC Public Health. 2018 Mar 6;18(1):323. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5212-4.
PubMed 29510709Aadland E, Andersen LB, Skrede T, Ekelund U, Anderssen SA, Resaland GK. Reproducibility of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time over two seasons in children; Comparing a day-by-day and a week-by-week approach. PLoS One. 2017 Dec 7;12(12):e0189304. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189304. eCollection 2017.
PubMed 29216318
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Oct 2019. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Active Smarter Kids: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effect of Daily Physical Activity on Children's Academic Performance and on Risk Factors for Lifestyle-related Non-communicable Diseases
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02132494
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ASK / HISF_2014
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 1,202 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Western Norway University of Applied SciencesUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Research Council of Norway
- Study start
- Mar 2014
- Primary completion
- Jun 2015 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jun 2015 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 May 2014 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The relationship between physical activity and academic performance has received widespread attention owing to the pressure on schools to graduate pupils who meet accepted academic standards. As important, there are global concerns regarding the increased prevalence of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). First, Norway has a history of mediocre scores on international comparative academic performance tests such as Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) [1]. It is therefore important to develop and evaluate strategic programs that may enhance pupil's academic performance. It is increasingly evident that a physical activity strategy that brings about enhanced cognitive function, better blood flow, and more, plays a key role in this effort [2]. Second, the prevalence of NCDs, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, is increasing worldwide, and such NCDs affect people of all ages [3]. Hence, healthcare costs are escalating to unaffordable levels. The best means to deal with this immense problem is through primary prevention, and physical activity is a powerful common denominator known to play a key role in preventing a host of NCDs [4].
Consequently, both World Health Organization (WHO) and the Norwegian health authorities call for effective primary prevention strategies to promote physical activity in children and adolescents [5, 6]. Prop. 90 L (2010-2011) Act on public health work [6] emphasizes that physical activity in school can benefit both the learning process and public health prevention.
Therefore, the objective of the ASK-study is to investigate the effects on academic performance of 60 minutes of daily physical activity during one school year. Furthermore, due to the complexity in the relationship between physical activity and academic performance, it is necessary to identify possible mediating and moderating variables as cognitive performance, quality of life (QoL), classroom behavior, motor skills and motivation. Also, we aim to investigate changes in risk factors related to NCDs and factors that influence NSDs, such as physical activity, sedentary behavior and health-related fitness.
In addition a qualitative part of the ASK-Study will be conducted to get an in-depth understanding of the children's embodied experiences and the meaning of the social learning culture in school physical activity (PA). This will give us an in-depth description of the intervention context, offer insight in how the intervention possibly influences children's overall development and enables us to estimate potential long term effects of the intervention.
If successful, the ASK cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) could provide much needed solutions to enhancing schoolchildren's academic performance and position the school as an effective setting for a massive public health intervention concerning the prevention of NCDs.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Physical activity | Experimental | Behavioral: Physical activity60 minutes of daily physical activity during one school year |
| Control | No intervention | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 8 to 11 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- all children attending 5th grade at the invited schools in Sogn og Fjordane county (Norway) during the school-year 2014/2015
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- those children whom for language barriers are unable to perform national tests in Numeracy, Norwegian and English
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Physical activity | Behavioural | Physical activity |
Primary outcome
Academic performance
Time frame: October 2014 - June 2015 (8 months)
Academic performance will be measured by Norwegian "national tests" in Numeracy, Norwegian and English
3 secondary outcomes
Risk factors for lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
Time frame: August 2014 - June 2015 (10 months)
Executive functions
Time frame: August 2014 - June 2015 (10 months)
Qualitative study of embodied experiences and interpersonal relations
Time frame: August 2014 - June 2015 (10 months)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Oct 2019.
- Background1. Kjærnsli, M., Tid for tunge løft: norske elevers kompetanse i naturfag, lesing og matematikk i PISA 2006. 2007, Oslo: Universitetsforl.
- Background: PubMed 22213750Singh A, Uijtdewilligen L, Twisk JW, van Mechelen W, Chinapaw MJ. Physical activity and performance at school: a systematic review of the literature including a methodological quality assessment. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012 Jan;166(1):49-55. doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.716.
- Background3. WHO, World Health Organization. Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: implementation of the global strategy. 2008, WHO: Geneva.
- Background4. WHO, World Health Organization [cited 2013 15.08]; Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/disease-prevention/physical-activity/facts-and-figures/10-key-facts-on-physical-activity-in-the-who-european-region. 2011, WHO.
- Background5. WHO, World Health Organization. Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. 57th World Health Assembly. 2004, WHO: Geneva.
- Background6. PttSL, (2010-2011) Act on public health work.Lov om Folkehelsearbeid. 2010
- Derived from this study: PubMed 35062967Jones PR, Rajalahti T, Resaland GK, Aadland E, Steene-Johannessen J, Anderssen SA, Bathen TF, Andreassen T, Kvalheim OM, Ekelund U. Associations of lipoprotein particle profile and objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in schoolchildren: a prospective cohort study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022 Jan 21;19(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01244-w.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 34793516Rajalahti T, Aadland E, Resaland GK, Anderssen SA, Kvalheim OM. Influence of adiposity and physical activity on the cardiometabolic association pattern of lipoprotein subclasses to aerobic fitness in prepubertal children. PLoS One. 2021 Nov 18;16(11):e0259901. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259901. eCollection 2021.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 31654725Stavnsbo M, Aadland E, Anderssen SA, Chinapaw M, Steene-Johannessen J, Andersen LB, Resaland GK. Effects of the Active Smarter Kids (ASK) physical activity intervention on cardiometabolic risk factors in children: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. Prev Med. 2020 Jan;130:105868. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105868. Epub 2019 Oct 22.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 31455305Aadland E, Kvalheim OM, Anderssen SA, Resaland GK, Andersen LB. Multicollinear physical activity accelerometry data and associations to cardiometabolic health: challenges, pitfalls, and potential solutions. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2019 Aug 27;16(1):74. doi: 10.1186/s12966-019-0836-z.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 30111365Aadland E, Kvalheim OM, Anderssen SA, Resaland GK, Andersen LB. The multivariate physical activity signature associated with metabolic health in children. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2018 Aug 15;15(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s12966-018-0707-z.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 29970050Aadland E, Andersen LB, Ekelund U, Anderssen SA, Resaland GK. Reproducibility of domain-specific physical activity over two seasons in children. BMC Public Health. 2018 Jul 3;18(1):821. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5743-8.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Sigmund A Anderssen, PhD principal investigator
Sogn og Fjordande University College
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Physical activity in people with Academic Performance; Primary Prevention; Physical Activity, run by Western Norway University of Applied Sciences at 1 site in Norway.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Oct 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Norway. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Academic performance (time frame: October 2014 - June 2015 (8 months)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02132494, which also lists 20 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Oct 2019.