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ReadingPLAYMORENCT04618822

Play-based Motor-Cognitive Training for Improved Reading

A study testing Teaching involving whole-body movements and Teaching involving hand movements in people with Reading, run by University of Copenhagen at 1 site in Denmark.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The PLAYMORE study aims to investigate the effects of two interventions focusing on a close and meaningful coupling between bodily movement and academic content on early pre-reading and word recognition skills in children. Further, the study aims to compare two interventions involving either hand movements (i.e. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 5 to 7 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Reading
What is being tested?
Teaching involving whole-body movements and Teaching involving hand movements
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
149 participants
Where
1 siteDenmark
Study dates
1 Sep 2020to 14 Apr 2021
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 5 to 7 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Children five to six years old who have just started school

Who cannot join

  • Children who do not speak any Danish
  • Children with cognitive or physical disabilities hindering participation in the project activities

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Denmark1 site
  • University of Copenhagen

    Copenhagen, 2200

Other trials in Denmark

About this study

Official title: Motor-enriched Learning for Improving Pre-reading and Word Recognition Skills in Preschool Children Aged 5-6 Years

The PLAYMORE study aims to investigate the effects of two interventions focusing on a close and meaningful coupling between bodily movement and academic content on early pre-reading and word recognition skills in children. Further, the study aims to compare two interventions involving either hand movements (i.e. using arms and hands) or whole-body movements (i.e. using the whole body). Potential mediating factors underlying the potential effect of bodily movement on early pre-reading and word recognition skills will be explored. The PLAYMORE study will be conducted as a three-armed randomized controlled trial including children aged five to six years recruited from four schools in the Copenhagen area, Denmark. Stratified by class, children will be randomly allocated to one of three 8-week intervention/control periods: 1) teaching involving whole-body movements, 2) teaching involving hand movements (i.e. arms and hands) or 3) teaching involving minimal motor movements (i.e. seated on a chair using paper and pencil). Outcome measurements, including pre-reading and word recognition skills, will be collected before and after the intervention period to assess the intervention effects. This study protocol follows the SPIRIT guidelines.

Conditions
Reading
Being tested
Teaching involving whole-body movements, Teaching involving hand movements, Teaching involving minimal motor movements (control)
Keywords
motor-enriched learning, embodied learning, physically active lessons, pre-reading skills, word recognition, preschool children

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Teaching involving whole-body movementsBehavioural

    The intervention consist of three 30 minutes sessions per week for eight weeks. Activities are conducted in small groups of six children and focus on the acquisition of letterforms, letter-sound correspondences and reading and spelling of short words. Activities involve whole-body movements and have been developed with the embodied learning theory in mind, linking movement closely to the learning content.

  • Teaching involving hand movementsBehavioural

    The intervention consist of three 30 minutes sessions per week for eight weeks. Activities are conducted in small groups of six children and focus on the acquisition of letterforms, letter-sound correspondences and reading and spelling of short words. Activities involve movements using hands and arms and have been developed with the embodied learning theory in mind, linking movement closely to the learning content.

  • Teaching involving minimal motor movements (control)Behavioural

    The control condition consist of three 30 minutes sessions per week for eight weeks. Activities are conducted in groups of app. twelve children and focus on the acquisition of letterforms, letter-sound correspondences and reading and spelling of short words. Activities are completed seated on a chair using paper and pencil.

Study groups in NCT04618822
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Teaching involving whole-body movementsExperimentalNot described
Receives: Behavioral: Teaching involving whole-body movements
Teaching involving hand movementsExperimentali.e. arms and hands
Receives: Behavioral: Teaching involving hand movements
teaching involving minimal motor movementsActive comparatori.e. seated on a chair using paper and pencil
Receives: Behavioral: Teaching involving minimal motor movements (control)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change from baseline in word reading speed and accuracy (reading of 18 trained words) at 8 weeks, computer-based test

    This word reading test consist of 18 presentations of targets words; one target word per presentation. Below the target word are placed four pictures of which one illustrates the target word. For the children to give a correct answer, they will have to touch the picture matching the target word on the touch screen. They are asked to touch the correct picture as fast as possible. The three remaining pictures represents words (distractors) that have either the initial (two pictures) or the final (one picture) sound in common with the target word. The presentations of target words and the order of the four pictures are randomized between subjects and time points. During the test, children are allowed to ask questions concerning the pictures (e.g. what is shown on this picture?) but not regarding the target word (e.g. what is the sound of this letter?). The results from the test constitute mean response time for correct answers and number of correct answers.

    Measured: Baseline and 8-weeks

  2. Change from baseline in trained letter-sound correspondences accuracy (15 trials) at 8 weeks, paper and pencil test

    The test consists of 15 trials. In each trial, a sound corresponding to a standard or a conditional pronunciation of a letter is said out loud by the assessor. Children are instructed to identify the correct letter matching the sound from a row of four letters. Before the test trials, children will be provided with one practice trial. The 15 sounds represent both standard and conditional pronunciations of the letters a, e, o, r, u and v. Results are numbers of correct letter-sound correspondences.

    Measured: Baseline and 8-weeks

Secondary outcomes (12)
  1. Change from baseline in word reading accuracy (reading of 12 untrained words) at 8 weeks, computer-based test

    This test consists of 12 presentations of untrained words; one word per presentation. The 12 words consist of four 2-letter words, four 3-letter words and four 4-letter words.

    Measured: Baseline and 8-weeks

  2. Change from baseline in letter naming fluency accuracy at 8 weeks

    This Danish version of the Letter Naming test is based on the same principles as DIBELS Letter Naming Fluency (Good \& Kaminski, 2002). The test consists of a piece of paper (A4) with 12 rows of 10 letters (mixed upper- and lower case).

    Measured: Baseline and 8-weeks

  3. Change from baseline in letter-sound correspondence accuracy, Bogstaveprøve 2 ['Letter test 2'] at 8 weeks

    This test has been widely used in the Danish school system. The test consists of two subtests assessing simple letter-sound knowledge and vowel identification, respectively. For the purpose of the present study, only the first subtest will be administered to assess standard letter-sound knowledge.

    Measured: Baseline and 8-weeks

  4. Change from baseline in word reading accuracy and speed, Ordlæseprøve 1 ['Word reading test 1'] at 8 weeks

    This test is widely used in the Danish school system. The test consists of 78 items (preceded by two practice items) and evaluates word reading accuracy as well as efficiency.

    Measured: Baseline and 8-weeks

  5. Change from baseline in word reading speed and accuracy (reading of 18 trained words) at 18 weeks, computer-based test

    This word reading test consist of 18 presentations of targets words; one target word per presentation. Below the target word are placed four pictures of which one illustrates the target word. For the children to give a correct answer, they will have to touch the picture matching the target word on the touch screen. They are asked to touch the correct picture as fast as possible. The three remaining pictures represents words (distractors) that have either the initial (two pictures) or the final (one picture) sound in common with the target word. The presentations of target words and the order of the four pictures are randomized between subjects and time points. During the test, children are allowed to ask questions concerning the pictures (e.g. what is shown on this picture?) but not regarding the target word (e.g. what is the sound of this letter?). The results from the test constitute mean response time for correct answers and number of correct answers.

    Measured: Baseline and 18-weeks

  6. Change from baseline in trained letter-sound correspondences accuracy (15 trials) at 18 weeks, paper and pencil test

    The test consists of 15 trials. In each trial, a sound corresponding to a standard or a conditional pronunciation of a letter is said out loud by the assessor. Children are instructed to identify the correct letter matching the sound from a row of four letters. Before the test trials, children will be provided with one practice trial. The 15 sounds represent both standard and conditional pronunciations of the letters a, e, o, r, u and v. Results are numbers of correct letter-sound correspondences.

    Measured: Baseline and 18-weeks

  7. Change in word reading speed and accuracy (reading of 18 trained words) between 8 weeks and 18 weeks, computer-based test

    This word reading test consist of 18 presentations of targets words; one target word per presentation. Below the target word are placed four pictures of which one illustrates the target word. For the children to give a correct answer, they will have to touch the picture matching the target word on the touch screen. They are asked to touch the correct picture as fast as possible. The three remaining pictures represents words (distractors) that have either the initial (two pictures) or the final (one picture) sound in common with the target word. The presentations of target words and the order of the four pictures are randomized between subjects and time points. During the test, children are allowed to ask questions concerning the pictures (e.g. what is shown on this picture?) but not regarding the target word (e.g. what is the sound of this letter?). The results from the test constitute mean response time for correct answers and number of correct answers.

    Measured: 8-weeks and 18-weeks

  8. Change in trained letter-sound correspondences accuracy (15 trials) between 8 weeks and 18 weeks, paper and pencil test

    The test consists of 15 trials. In each trial, a sound corresponding to a standard or a conditional pronunciation of a letter is said out loud by the assessor. Children are instructed to identify the correct letter matching the sound from a row of four letters. Before the test trials, children will be provided with one practice trial. The 15 sounds represent both standard and conditional pronunciations of the letters a, e, o, r, u and v. Results are numbers of correct letter-sound correspondences.

    Measured: 8-weeks and 18-weeks

  9. Change in word reading accuracy (reading of 12 untrained words) between 8 weeks and 18 weeks, computer-based test

    This test consists of 12 presentations of untrained words; one word per presentation. The 12 words consist of four 2-letter words, four 3-letter words and four 4-letter words.

    Measured: 8-weeks and 18-weeks

  10. Change in letter naming fluency accuracy between 8 weeks and 18 weeks

    This Danish version of the Letter Naming test is based on the same principles as DIBELS Letter Naming Fluency (Good \& Kaminski, 2002). The test consists of a piece of paper (A4) with 12 rows of 10 letters (mixed upper- and lower case).

    Measured: 8-weeks and 18-weeks

  11. Change in letter-sound correspondence accuracy, Bogstaveprøve 2 ['Letter test 2'] between 8 weeks and 18 weeks

    This test has been widely used in the Danish school system. The test consists of two subtests assessing simple letter-sound knowledge and vowel identification, respectively. For the purpose of the present study, only the first subtest will be administered to assess standard letter-sound knowledge.

    Measured: 8-weeks and 18-weeks

  12. Change in word reading accuracy and speed, Ordlæseprøve 1 ['Word reading test 1'] between 8 weeks and 18 weeks

    This test is widely used in the Danish school system. The test consists of 78 items (preceded by two practice items) and evaluates word reading accuracy as well as efficiency.

    Measured: 8-weeks and 18-weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Nov 2020
  2. Study start1 Sep 2020
  3. Primary completion19 Feb 2021
  4. Study completion14 Apr 2021

Resources

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
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
A three-armed randomized controlled trial
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
149 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04618822
Sponsor's protocol ID
8018-00132B
Acronym
PLAYMORE
Status last verified
Nov 2022
First submitted
26 Oct 2020
Last updated
8 Nov 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Gejl AK, Malling ASB, Damsgaard L, Veber-Nielsen AM, Wienecke J. Motor-enriched learning for improving pre-reading and word recognition skills in preschool children aged 5-6 years - study protocol for the PLAYMORE randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatr. 2021 Jan 4;21(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02430-0.

    PubMed 33397297

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Teaching involving whole-body movements and Teaching involving hand movements in people with Reading, run by University of Copenhagen at 1 site in Denmark.

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 2 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 8 Nov 2022. 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 Denmark. 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?

Change from baseline in word reading speed and accuracy (reading of 18 trained words) at 8 weeks, computer-based test (time frame: Baseline and 8-weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT04618822, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 8 Nov 2022.

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