Corepal 2019.
| Study characteristics | ||
| Methods | Study design: cluster‐RCT | |
| Participants |
School inclusion criteria: post‐primary schools in Belfast that had previously participated in research projects with the university School exclusion criteria: ‐ Student inclusion criteria: Year 9 classes Student exclusion criteria: advised by a general practitioner not to undertake MVPA, did not provide assent, or parents completed parental opt‐out consent form Setting: school Age group: adolescents Gender distribution: females and males Country where trial was performed: North Ireland |
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| Interventions |
Intervention: StepSmart Challenge used gamification and self‐determination theory to encourage and support PA behaviour change. During phase 1, competitions were held between schools, between classes, and between students using material and social incentives. FitBit Zips were provided to track progress towards challenges. Phase 2 included a within‐student pedometer competition using the StepSmart Challenge website Comparator: no intervention or incentives Duration of intervention: 22 weeks Duration of follow‐up: 52 weeks Number of schools: 5 Theoretical framework: self‐determination theory |
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| Outcomes | PA duration Sedentary time |
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| Study registration | NCT02455986 | |
| Publication details |
Language of publication: English Funding: HSC R&D Enabling Research Award Publication status: peer‐reviewed journal |
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| Stated aim for study | "This study investigated the feasibility of implementing and evaluating a school‐based gamified pedometer competition designed to promote physical activity among 12–14‐year‐olds, known as ‘The StepSmart Challenge’, which integrates core gamification strategies with self‐determination theory" | |
| Notes | ||
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | Quote from publication: "stratified randomisation process (stratified by socioeconomic status, and whether schools were single‐sex or co‐educational) was undertaken by an independent statistician to assign schools to the intervention or control group using software available at http://www.randomization.com" |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Low risk | Quote from publication: "stratified randomisation process (stratified by socioeconomic status, and whether schools were single‐sex or co‐educational) was undertaken by an independent statistician to assign schools to the intervention or control group using software available at http://www.randomization.com" |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Comment: not described |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Comment: not described |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) Physical activity and sedentary time | High risk | Comment: only 57.4% of returned accelerometers had data valid for analysis |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Low risk | Comment: all relevant outcomes reported |
| Cluster RCT ‐ Recruitment bias | Unclear risk | Comment: not described |
| Cluster RCT ‐ Baseline imbalance | Unclear risk | Comment: not described |
| Cluster RCT ‐ Loss of clusters | Low risk | Comment: no clusters lost |
| Cluster RCT ‐ Incorrect analysis | Low risk | Comment: feasibility trial, thus only descriptive values reported |