Clinical trial NCT05231837: Neighborhood Park Youth Sports Program Fee Waiver and Intensive Family Outreach
Official title: Neighborhood Park Youth Sports Program Fee Waiver and Intensive Family Outreach to Promote Physical Activity in Low-Income Children Ages 6-12 Years
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Phase: PHASE3
Conditions: Physical Activity
Keywords: Physical Activity Low Income Youth Parks
Lead sponsor: University of Minnesota
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2022-02-09
Enrollment: 435
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 6
Maximum age (years): 12
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Parks will be randomized to one of two conditions for a period of two years. Individual measures of physical activity and behavior will be collected among children and parents who reside in the neighborhoods that are served by each park. Children and parents will be enrolled for two years and measured at baseline, six, twelve and twenty-four months.
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: To evaluate a park-level intervention to increase child moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and decrease sedentary time among low-income racially/ethnically diverse children ages 6-12 yrs. Neighborhood parks (n=20) from Minneapolis (n=8) and Saint Paul (n=12) park systems will be randomized for a 2-year period to one of two arms: 1) Intensive Park Outreach and Youth Sports Program Fee Waiver (n=10); or 2) Youth Sports Program Fee Waiver Only (n=10). The evaluation cohort will consist of 432 children ages 6-12 yrs who reside in one of the 20 randomized park neighborhoods. Measurements from evaluation cohort-enrolled individual children will be collected at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months.

Detailed description: This research evaluates the effects of a park-level intervention to increase child moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and decrease sedentary time among low-income racially/ethnically diverse children ages 6-12 yrs. Neighborhood parks (n=20) from Minneapolis (n=8) and Saint Paul (n=12) park systems will be randomized for a 2-year period to one of two arms: 1) Intensive Park Outreach and Youth Sports Program Fee Waiver (n=10); or 2) Youth Sports Program Fee Waiver Only (n=10). In the Intensive Park Outreach and Youth Sports Program Fee Waiver condition, Community Advisory Boards (CABs) will be created to develop partner networks that will publicize the free youth park programs offered at the local park and recreation center. CABs will engage in program recruitment activities throughout the study to directly engage parents to support their child's PA through enrollment and participation in youth sports park programs. Parents will be supported through CAB outreach activities that address cultural and communication barriers, and financial barriers will be addressed through the fee waiver program. The Youth Sports Program Fee Waiver Only will consist of financial supports through the fee waiver, but will not include additional outreach beyond usual park outreach activities. The evaluation cohort will consist of 432 children ages 6-12 yrs who reside in one of the 20 randomized park neighborhoods. Measurements from evaluation cohort-enrolled individual children will be collected at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months.

The Specific Aims of this research are:

Specific Aim 1: To evaluate the effects of a park-level intervention on changes in child MVPA over 6, 12 and 24 months.

Specific Aim 2: To evaluate the effects of a park-level intervention on changes in child sedentary behavior over 6, 12 and 24 months.

Exploratory Aim 3: To evaluate the effects of a park-level intervention on changes in parent light and sedentary activity over 6, 12 and 24 months.

Hypothesis 1: Children who live in a neighborhood where the park is randomized to intensive park outreach and fee waiver will have larger increases in MVPA and decreases in sedentary behavior at 6, 12 and 24 months relative to children who live in a fee waiver-only neighborhood.

Hypothesis 2: Parents of children who live in a neighborhood where the park is randomized to intensive park outreach and fee waiver will have larger increases in light PA and decreases in sedentary behavior at 6, 12, and 24 months relative to parents of children who live in a fee waiver-only neighborhood.

IMPACT: The proposed research will provide evidence about the effectiveness of a park-based intervention that includes intensive park outreach and youth sports program fee waivers on changes in physical activity among racially/ethnically diverse children with low-income. It will provide critical information needed to support policies and programs that increase the reach and participation of children living in high-risk, low income communities, and thereby reduce racial/ethnic and income-related physical activity disparities.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* age 6-12 years
* do not meet guidelines for recommended level of physical activity
* live in neighborhood served by one of 20 study parks
* able to be physically active
* do not plan to move in the next two years

Exclusion Criteria:

* younger than 6 or older than 12 years of age
* do not live within 2 miles of study park
* already meet physical activity guidelines
* not able to be physically active plan to move within two years

Primary outcomes:
measure: Minutes per day of moderate and vigorous physical activity
timeFrame: two years
measure: Minutes per day of light and sedentary activity
timeFrame: two years
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Minneapolis
country: United States
facility: University of Minnesota Division of Epidemiology & Community Health
state: Minnesota
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Minneaots
name: Simone A French, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: