Trial Review

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Trial registered on ANZCTR


Registration number
ACTRN12618000897268
Ethics application status
Approved
Date submitted
22/05/2018
Date registered
29/05/2018
Date last updated
23/09/2022
Date data sharing statement initially provided
22/05/2019
Type of registration
Retrospectively registered

Titles & IDs
Public title
Understanding the impact of the Active Kids program on school-enrolled children in New South Wales
Scientific title
Understanding the impact of the Active Kids program on school-enrolled children's participation in physical activity, organised sport and active recreation in New South Wales
Secondary ID [1] 294783 0
None
Universal Trial Number (UTN)
Trial acronym
Linked study record

Health condition
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:
Physical Inactivity 307704 0
Childhood obesity 307705 0
Social wellbeing 307706 0
Condition category
Condition code
Public Health 306763 306763 0 0
Other public health

Intervention/exposure
Study type
Observational
Patient registry
False
Target follow-up duration
Target follow-up type
Description of intervention(s) / exposure
On January 31st, 2018 the New South Wales Government in Australia launched the Active Kids policy framework; a universal voucher program, providing annual support to parents and primary care givers to reduce the cost of children’s participation in sport and physical activity (Jan 2018-Dec 2021). The Active Kids program was expanded by the NSW Government to provide two $100 vouchers per year in 2019, to encourage participation throughout the year. The Active Kids program has also been extended to Dec 31st 2023.

The primary objective of Active Kids is to increase the participation of school-enrolled children in sport and physical activity in NSW. The program aims to reduce the barrier of sport registration cost or membership fees for outside-of-school structured sport or physical activity, by up to $100AUD per voucher. All school-enrolled children aged 4.5-18 years old who reside in NSW are eligible for two Active Kids vouchers per year. Eligible activities must be delivered through an organisation offering a structured program of at least 8 weeks’ duration and involve moderate or vigorous levels of physical activity; these activities include recognised sports, swimming lessons, structured fitness programs, outdoor recreation programs, approved active recreation (e.g. dance).

Participants for this cohort study will be recruited on a rolling basis during the program registration process through a bespoke online government portal. All children, who are eligible for an Active Kids voucher will be eligible to participate in the evaluation, with their parental/caregiver consent.

Sport and structured physical activity providers will also be recruited to understand the acceptability, engagement and experience of Active Kids program on approved providers. Providers are required to register in the Active Kids program through the bespoke government portal - guidelines for providers can be found here: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/Active_Kids_Provider_Guidelines_20171119.pdf
Intervention code [1] 301335 0
Not applicable
Comparator / control treatment
No control group (Universally Offered Program)
Control group
Uncontrolled

Outcomes
Primary outcome [1] 305755 0
Child Physical activity status - 7 day recall reported through online questionnaire.

Instrument: NSW Population Health Survey question
Scott JJ, Morgan PJ, Plotnikoff RC, Lubans DR. Reliability and validity of a single-item physical activity measure for adolescents. J Paediatr Child Health. 2015 Aug;51(8):787-93.
Timepoint [1] 305755 0
All eligible account holders will provide primary outcome response at the point of registration each year (2018-2023). Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the primary outcome.
Primary outcome [2] 305756 0
Child's participation in organised sport or physical activities - 12 month recall reported through online questionnaire.

Instrument: Ausplay Survey (https://www.ausport.gov.au/information/ausplay)
Timepoint [2] 305756 0
Point of registration annually from 2018-2023
Secondary outcome [1] 346374 0
Self-efficacy to be physically active reported through online questionnaire.

Instrument: Motl, R.W., Dishman, R.K., Trost, S.G., et al., 2000. Factorial validity and invariance of questionnaires measuring social-cognitive determinants of physical activity amongadolescent girls. Prev. Med. 31, 584–594.
Timepoint [1] 346374 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [2] 346375 0
Enjoyment of physical activity reported through online questionnaire.

Instrument: Motl, R.W., Dishman, R.K., Saunders, R., Dowda, M., Felton, G., Pate, R.R., 2001. Measuring enjoyment of physical activity in adolescent girls. Am. J. Prev. Med. 21, 110–117.
Timepoint [2] 346375 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [3] 346377 0
Body Mass Index

Self report height and weight
WHO. Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a WHO Expert Committee. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. Geneva; 1995.
Timepoint [3] 346377 0
Point of registration annually from 2018-2023 and collected in two surveys administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [4] 346378 0
Social influences on child's physical activity reported through online questionnaire.

Instrument: Hume C, Ball K, Salmon J. Development and reliability of a self-report questionnaire to examine children’s perceptions of the physical activity environment at home and in the neighbourhood. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2006;3:16. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-3-16.
Timepoint [4] 346378 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [5] 346379 0
Adult self-report physical activity reported through online questionnaire.

Instrument: Milton K, Bull FC, Bauman A Reliability and validity testing of a single-item physical activity measure British Journal of Sports Medicine 2011;45:203-208.
Timepoint [5] 346379 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [6] 346380 0
Adult self-report organised sport or physical activity participation reported through online questionnaire.

Instrument: Ausplay Survey (https://www.ausport.gov.au/information/ausplay)
Timepoint [6] 346380 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [7] 346382 0
Total expenditure on sport and structured activity reported through online questionnaire.

Instrument: Ausplay Survey (https://www.ausport.gov.au/information/ausplay)
Timepoint [7] 346382 0
Collected in two surveys administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [8] 346383 0
Adult knowledge of children's physical activity guidelines

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. National Physical Activity Guidelines for Australians. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, 2005. Available online at www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-active-index.htm (accessed 31 March 2009).
Timepoint [8] 346383 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [9] 346385 0
Reasons for using the active kids voucher reported through online questionnaire.

Instrument developed specifically for this study.
Timepoint [9] 346385 0
Collected in two surveys administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child assess the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [10] 346798 0
Main reasons for engagement in the Active Kids program reported through online questionnaire.

Multiple choice question developed for this study with the option to add 'other' category. More than one reason can be selected.
Timepoint [10] 346798 0
Collected in two surveys administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child assess the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [11] 346800 0
Active Kids Program adoption

Adoption of the program is indicated by a provider redeeming the unique voucher for their refund though NSW government administration process.
Timepoint [11] 346800 0
31st December each year from 2018 to 2023
Secondary outcome [12] 346801 0
Participation - Self report attendance at voucher activity session, reported through online questionnaire.
Timepoint [12] 346801 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [13] 346802 0
Ease/Difficulty of locating places for the child to be physically active

Instrument modified from European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q)
Sørensen et. al. 2013, 'Measuring health literacy in populations: illuminating the design and development process of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q)', BMC Public Health , vol. 13, no.948.
Timepoint [13] 346802 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [14] 347378 0
Reasons for not using the active kids voucher reported through online questionnaire.

Instrument developed specifically for this study.
Timepoint [14] 347378 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [15] 347379 0
Participation - self reported voucher activity session duration when child attends session the voucher was used for.
Timepoint [15] 347379 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome.
Secondary outcome [16] 401915 0
Acceptability, engagement and experience of Active Kids providers (composite)
Timepoint [16] 401915 0
Providers will be invited to participate in qualitative interviews annually from 2018-2021. The semi-structured interview guide includes a series of questions regarding the Active Kids program acceptability, engagement and experience of Active Kids providers.
Secondary outcome [17] 401916 0
Parent/Guardian Psychological Distress
K-6 Distress Scale - Self Administered
Kessler, R.C., Green, J.G., Gruber, M.J., Sampson, N.A., Bromet, E., Cuitan, M., Furukawa, T.A., Gureje, O., Hinkov, H., Hu, C.Y., Lara, C., Lee, S., Mneimneh, Z., Myer, L., Oakley-Browne, M., Posada-Villa, J., Sagar, R., Viana, M.C., Zaslavsky, A.M. (2010). Screening for serious mental illness in the general population with the K6 screening scale: results from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) survey initiative. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 19(S1), 4-22. Erratum in International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 2011 Mar;20(1):62.
Timepoint [17] 401916 0
Two surveys are administered to each account holder throughout the year regarding the registered child to monitor changes in the secondary outcome. These items were added to the online survey protocol in May 2020.

Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
A quasi-experimental and mixed-method pragmatic evaluation will evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the Active Kids program. To achieve this, several discrete populations will be included in the evaluation namely: all children (4,5-18 years old) registering for the program (process evaluation); registered children consenting to be followed-up in an evaluation cohort (impact/outcome evaluation) and parents or care givers of registered children. An additional component will include all sports service providers registering for the program.
Minimum age
54 Months
Maximum age
No limit
Sex
Both males and females
Can healthy volunteers participate?
Yes
Key exclusion criteria
This study will exclude children and structured physical activity providers who are not eligible to register in the Active Kids program.

Study design
Purpose
Natural history
Duration
Longitudinal
Selection
Convenience sample
Timing
Prospective
Statistical methods / analysis
There are 1.236 million children who are eligible to claim a voucher on 31st January 2018. A 45% minimum uptake target for each year of the program has been given by the NSW government. Everyone who registers for a voucher, each year, will be invited to take part in the evaluation adopting a convenience sampling strategy.

To assess the experience of the accredited Active Kid’s providers of being involved within the program, along with the barriers and facilitators associated with Active Kids and their perceived impact of Active kids on their organisation, semi-structured qualitative interviews with a representative sample will be conducted. A representative sample will be assessed by geographic location, sport and active recreation providers as well as the number of vouchers claimed within the organisation.

Recruitment
Recruitment status
Recruiting
Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
9/04/2018
Actual
1/05/2018
Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
Date of last data collection
Anticipated
Actual
Sample size
Target
1062500
Accrual to date
1060846
Final
Recruitment in Australia
Recruitment state(s)
NSW

Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1] 299389 0
Government body
Name [1] 299389 0
NSW Government, Office of Sport
Country [1] 299389 0
Australia
Primary sponsor type
University
Name
SPRINTER group, Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney
Address
Level 6 The Hub, The Charles Perkins Centre (D17), The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006
Country
Australia
Secondary sponsor category [1] 298896 0
None
Name [1] 298896 0
Address [1] 298896 0
Country [1] 298896 0

Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Approved
Ethics committee name [1] 300293 0
Sydney University Human Research Ethic Committee
Ethics committee address [1] 300293 0
Research Integrity and Ethics Administration
Level 3, Administration Building (F23)
University of Sydney
NSW 2006
Ethics committee country [1] 300293 0
Australia
Date submitted for ethics approval [1] 300293 0
16/11/2017
Approval date [1] 300293 0
13/04/2018
Ethics approval number [1] 300293 0
2017/947

Summary
Brief summary
This evaluation is being led by the University of Sydney, and is delivered in partnership with the NSW Office of Sport through their contractual partnership entitled SPRINTER. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of the Active Kids Program in influencing physical activity behaviours, social wellbeing, self-efficacy and interaction with the sport sector, amongst children living in NSW.
Trial website
Trial related presentations / publications
Public notes
The Active Kids program, launched in 2018, aims to increase participation of school-enrolled children in sport and physical activity by providing parents with vouchers to help cover the cost of registration and membership fees.
Families can now access two separate $100 vouchers for each school-enrolled child. This has increased from the first year o the program, where there was only one voucher available per child per year. The vouchers may be used with an approved Active Kids provider.
For more information, visit: https://sport.nsw.gov.au/sectordevelopment/activekids

Contacts
Principal investigator
Name 83182 0
Dr Katherine B Owen
Address 83182 0
Prevention Research Collaboration | Sydney School of Public Health | Sydney Medical School
D17 Charles Perkins Centre, Level 6, The Hub | The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006
Country 83182 0
Australia
Phone 83182 0
+61 286277545
Fax 83182 0
Email 83182 0
[email protected]
Contact person for public queries
Name 83183 0
Dr Katherine Owen
Address 83183 0
Prevention Research Collaboration | Sydney School of Public Health | Sydney Medical School
D17 Charles Perkins Centre, Level 6, The Hub | The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006
Country 83183 0
Australia
Phone 83183 0
+61 286277545
Fax 83183 0
Email 83183 0
[email protected]
Contact person for scientific queries
Name 83184 0
Dr Katherine Owen
Address 83184 0
Prevention Research Collaboration | Sydney School of Public Health | Sydney Medical School
D17 Charles Perkins Centre, Level 6, The Hub | The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006
Country 83184 0
Australia
Phone 83184 0
+61 286277545
Fax 83184 0
Email 83184 0
[email protected]

Data sharing statement
Will individual participant data (IPD) for this trial be available (including data dictionaries)?
Yes
What data in particular will be shared?
Individual participant data underlying published results only
When will data be available (start and end dates)?
Immediately following publication, no end date determined.
Available to whom?
Only researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal, case-by-case basis at the discretion of Principal Investigator.
Available for what types of analyses?
Only to achieve the aims in the approved proposal.
How or where can data be obtained?
Access subject to approvals by Principal Investigator, requirement to sign data access agreement.


What supporting documents are/will be available?

No Supporting Document Provided



Results publications and other study-related documents

Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.

Documents added automatically
SourceTitleYear of PublicationDOI
EmbaseEffects of the Active Kids voucher program on children and adolescents' physical activity: a natural experiment evaluating a state-wide intervention.2021https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-10060-5
N.B. These documents automatically identified may not have been verified by the study sponsor.