Impact of the Play Active policy intervention on early childhood educator's sedentary behaviour‐related practices, psychosocial influences and meeting policy recommendations: Results from a pragmatic cluster randomized trial

TL;DR

This study evaluated a policy intervention to reduce sedentary behavior in early childhood education but found no significant changes in educators' practices or adherence.

Contribution

The study provides evidence on the effectiveness of a policy intervention targeting sedentary behavior in early childhood education settings.

Findings

Educator adherence to sedentary behavior policy recommendations was high at baseline and did not significantly change.

Psychosocial influences and practices related to sedentary behavior remained stable after the intervention.

Clear evidence-based policies are needed to maintain low sedentary behavior levels in early childhood education.

Abstract

High levels of sedentary behaviour are associated with poor child health outcomes such as obesity. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are a key intervention setting. Most ECEC policy‐based interventions focus on children's nutrition and physical activity with few aimed at children's sedentary behaviour.

To evaluate the effect of the Play Active ECEC policy intervention on educator adherence to sedentary behaviour policy recommendations, educator's practices and educator psychosocial influences related to children's sedentary behaviour.

Pragmatic cluster randomized trial in 81 ECEC services in Perth, Western Australia. Services implemented the Play Active policy over three months. Outcomes were educator‐reported changes in adherence to sedentary behaviour policy recommendations, practices and psychosocial influences related to children's sedentary behaviour. Analysis involved descriptive statistics and generalized linear mixed‐effects models.

Adherence to sedentary behaviour policy recommendations and educator's practices and psychosocial influences related to children's sedentary behaviour was high at baseline and did not significantly change in response to the Play Active policy intervention.

Educators appeared to adhere to best‐practice guidelines for children's sedentary behaviour in ECEC. Clear evidence informed policy, standards and legislation to maintain children's low levels of sedentary behaviours in ECEC is warranted.

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