J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2024 Sep;37(5):e13260. doi: 10.1111/jar.13260.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Children with intellectual disability are less physically active and more sedentary than typically developing peers. To date no studies have tested the feasibility of a school-based walking intervention for children with Intellectual Disability.
METHOD: A clustered randomised controlled trial (cRCT), with an embedded process evaluation, was used to test the feasibility of a school-based walking intervention. Eight schools (n = 161 pupils aged 9-13 years) were randomised into either an intervention arm or an ‘exercise as usual’ arm. Measures included physical activity, physical fitness and emotional wellbeing. Baseline and 3-month follow-up data were collected.
RESULTS: The ‘Walk Buds’ intervention was found to be acceptable to teaching staff and pupils, with an uptake rate of the walking sessions offered of 84%.
CONCLUSION: A number of challenges were experienced, relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, and difficulties collecting accelerometer data. Barriers, facilitators and required changes identified through the mixed methods process evaluation are discussed.
PMID:38937072 | DOI:10.1111/jar.13260
