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Trial registered on ANZCTR

Registration number

ACTRN12617000910303

Ethics application status

Approved

Date submitted

17/06/2017

Date registered

21/06/2017

Date last updated

20/07/2018

Type of registration

Prospectively registered

Titles & IDs

Public title

Pau te Hau: Curriculum-based high-intensity interval training for young adolescents

Scientific title

Health effects of curriculum-based high intensity interval training for young adolescents

Secondary ID [1]

None

Universal Trial Number (UTN)

U1111-1198-0573

Trial acronym

Linked study record

Health condition

Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:

Aerobic fitness

Condition category

Condition code

Public Health

Other public health

Intervention/exposure

Study type

Interventional

Description of intervention(s) / exposure

This cluster-randomised controlled trial will be conducted within intermediate level schools in Auckland – one low decile (1-3) and one high decile (8-10) - in order to determine provisional efficacy and feasibility of delivery in different settings. Total number of participants is therefore expected to be 80-100 school students subject to recruitment rate. Two classes will be recruited from each school; one will be randomly allocated to HIIT, and the other to a control group who will continue with usual practice Physical Education class delivery. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and post intervention period (~10 weeks). The primary outcome measure will be aerobic fitness. Secondary outcome measures will include a range of physiological outcomes, body composition, muscular fitness, cognitive function, and psychological wellbeing. Additionally, participants’ attitudes to, and perceptions of exercise will be assessed, and the teachers’ perceptions of their competence and willingness to continue delivery of HIIT will be determined. Teachers will receive resources and a professional development session (with approximately 4 ongoing brief feedback sessions throughout the term) to deliver the intervention, which will consist of brief HIIT sessions to fit within two PE periods per week. The sessions will be designed to be deliverable in a variety of settings such that specialist space is not required, and with minimal, portable equipment. Specific aspects related to Level 4 Health and Physical Education Curriculum in New Zealand will be incorporated into succinct discussions after sessions. Analysis will account for moderators (i.e.., decile, initial fitness level, score on the strengths and difficulties questionnaire, classification of weight status) and relative efficacy.
The single pre-intervention one-day teacher professional development session and ongoing brief feedback throughout the intervention will contribute towards the 12 practising teacher criteria requirements for maintenance of teacher registration within NZ. They will address the latest evidence on the benefits of HIIT across all outcomes in order to enhance teacher buy-in and understanding. Importantly, teachers will learn to deliver the HIIT using the SAAFE principles developed by Lubans and colleagues, within an Aotearoa New Zealand context. A written HIIT resource will then be provided to teachers, along with brief videos of exercises to be used. They will also receive a 'class-pack' of heart rate monitors. Teachers will be encouraged to complete an action plan and identify barriers and solutions to facilitate the integration of HIIT into their PE lessons.
WHO
The professional development session will be delivered by the research team (all full-time academic staff members, PhD’s) to the teachers of the intervention class. The HIIT sessions will be delivered by the teachers to the participant students in class.
INTERVENTION MODE
Teachers will deliver sessions to student participants in class.
Members of the research team will deliver the professional development to the intervention class teachers in person.
The HIIT sessions delivered by the teachers will be structured to fit within 10-15 minutes, twice per week, and involve a variety of work to rest ratios based on existing HIIT protocols. Participants will wear heart rate monitors and have their de-identified heart rate displayed on screen for them to target at least 85% of predicted heart rate maximum as a guideline intensity towards the end of each work phase.
Brief reflective questions at the end of each HIIT session will prompt critical thinking around the participant’s own relationship with vigorous physical activity and how that evolves over the course of the intervention period. The questions will be developed in conjunction with the teachers. Specific NZ Health and Physical Education Level 4 Curriculum learning area strands, achievement objectives, and key competencies addressed will include:
Movement concepts and motor skills strand, and achievement objectives:
• Movement skills through the process of acquisition of exercise competency
• Positive attitudes though the aspects of resilience and perseverance.
Personal Health and Physical Development strand, and achievement objectives:
• Managing self and sense of responsibility for incorporating regular and enjoyable physical activity into personal lifestyle to enhance wellbeing.

NUMBER OF TIMES FOR INTERVENTION DELIVERY
Over one school term (8-10 weeks), 16-20, 10-15 minute sessions in total will be delivered in class by the teachers.
LOCATION
All HIIT sessions will be delivered in school (Year 8 level) during usual Physical Education class times.
The professional development session will be delivered to the teachers involved with the intervention class at the University facility of the research team.
ADHERENCE
Will be assessed via recording of class attendance. No strategy will be employed to enhance adherence as it is reliant on usual attendance to class.

Intervention code [1]

Lifestyle

Comparator / control treatment

Usual Physical Education (PE) Curriculum delivery at Year 8.
Given that each different school has a unique approach to meeting curriculum requirements, the usual PE programme control groups will inevitably be somewhat varied, but the intention is to compare relative efficacy of HIIT with the current programme as it is. Normal PE at this level involves twice weekly class sessions of 1-2 hours in length, covering introductory sports skills, some game based activities, and at times, a component of 'fitness' subject to individual teacher determination.

Control group

Active

Outcomes

Primary outcome [1]

Aerobic fitness using the PACER multi-stage fitness test, and also for comparative purposes a sub-maximal cycle ergometer workload / heart rate relationship test. That is, 1-3 incremental (35 Watts) stage cycle with heart rate recorded.

Timepoint [1]