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Promoting Fitness and Safety in Elementary Students: A Randomized Control Study of the Michigan Model for Health
Author(s) -
O'Neill James M.,
Clark Jeffrey K.,
Jones James A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/josh.12407
Subject(s) - curriculum , intervention (counseling) , fidelity , physical education , psychology , medical education , schedule , health education , physical fitness , nutrition education , control (management) , medicine , mathematics education , gerontology , physical therapy , public health , pedagogy , nursing , engineering , computer science , electrical engineering , operating system , artificial intelligence
BACKGROUND In elementary grades, comprehensive health education curricula have demonstrated effectiveness in addressing singular health issues. The Michigan Model for Health ( MMH ) was implemented and evaluated to determine its impact on nutrition, physical fitness, and safety knowledge and skills. METHODS Schools (N = 52) were randomly assigned to intervention and control conditions. Participants received MMH with 24 lessons in grade 4 and 28 more lessons in grade 5 including material focusing on nutrition, physical fitness, and safety attitudes and skills. The 40‐minute lessons were taught by the classroom teacher who received curriculum training and provided feedback on implementation fidelity. Self‐report survey data were collected from the fourth‐grade students (N = 1983) prior to the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 6 weeks after the intervention, with the same data collection schedule repeated in fifth grade. Analysis of the scales was conducted using a mixed‐model approach. RESULTS Students who received the curriculum had better nutrition, physical activity, and safety skills than the control‐group students. Intervention students also reported higher consumption of fruits; however, no difference was reported for other types of food consumption. CONCLUSION The effectiveness of the MMH in promoting fitness and safety supports the call for integrated strategies that begin in elementary grades, target multiple risk behaviors, and result in practical and financial benefits to schools.