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. 2022 Oct 31;22:1986. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14359-3

Table 2.

Physical activity behaviours in the classroom

Survey Questions Responses Frequencies (%)
1. Do you incorporate DPA into your classroom? N = 186
Yes 159 (86)
No 27 (14)
Teachers who implement DPA
2.What courses are you most comfortable implementing DPA within? N = 217
All courses 71 (32.7)
Language 39 (18)
Math 37 (17.1)
Transitions between lessons 11 (5.1)
Science 10 (4.6)
Other 49 (22.5)
3. How many days/week do you incorporate DPA? N = 159
1–2 days/week 4 (2.5)
2–3 days/week 26 (16.4)
3–4 days/week 41 (25.8)
4–5 days/week 25 (15.7)
5 days/week 56 (35.2)
Prefer not to answer 4 (2.5)
When no physical education class 3 (1.9)
4. How many times/day do you incorporate DPA? N = 159
1–2 times/day 107 (67.3)
2–3 times/day 34 (21.4)
3–4 times/day 8 (5.1)
4–5 times/day 5 (3.1)
Prefer not to answer 5 (3.1)
5. How many minutes is each DPA bout? N = 159
1–5 min 57 (35.8)
5–10 min 49 (30.8)
10–15 min 31 (19.5)
Over 15 min 22 (13.8)
6. What is the most common type of DPA you used in your classroom? N = 377
Dancing 71 (18.8)
Movement videos 69 (18.3)
Yoga 42 (11.1)
Stretching 41 (10.9)
Cardio 36 (9.6)
General movement 35 (9.3)
Games 35 (9.3)
Walks 20 (5.3)
Outdoor play 15 (4.0)
Other 13 (3.4)
7. Does DPA include an academic component? N = 159
Yes 126 (79.2)
No 33 (20.8)
8. What are the most observed benefits of DPA? N = 288
Increases focus and learning 102 (34.2)
Brain break 36 (12.1)
Improves health 25 (8.4)
Releases energy 25 (8.4)
Activates body 24 (8.1)
Energizes student and teacher 20 (6.9)
Increases peer engagement 14 (4.7)
Increases relaxation 12 (4.0)
Other 30 (10.4)
9. What are some barriers to incorporating DPA? N = 245
Lack of space 103 (42.0)
Lack of time 71 (29.0)
Lack of knowledge/resources 14 (5.7)
Unwilling students 11 (4.5)
Behavioural issues 11 (4.5
Other 35 (14.3)
10. How do students typically respond to DPA? N = 179
Enjoy 137 (76.5)
Mixed feelings 12 (6.7)
Other 30 (16.8)
11. Have you ever received DPA training? N = 159
No 93 (58.5)
Yes – Teachers college 25 (15.7)
Yes – DPA workshops 24 (15.1)
Yes - OPHEA 3 (1.9)
Yes – Peers 1 (0.6)
Prefer not to answer 13 (8.2)
Teachers who do not implement DPA
12. Are there any reasons why you do not incorporate DPA into your classroom? N = 37
Lack of time 14 (37.8)
No training 7 (18.9)
Lack of space 5 (13.5)
Other 11 (29.7)
13. Would you consider incorporating DPA? N = 27
Yes 22 (81.5)
No 1 (3.7)
Unsure 4 (14.8)
14. What knowledge or resources would help facilitate your implementation of DPA? N = 38
More access to resources 9 (23.7)
More training 8 (21.1)
How to incorporate DPA into lessons 5 (13.2)
Prefer not to answer 9 (23.7)
Other 7 (18.4)

Note. All “other” responses include frequencies of < 10; Q1 “other” includes drama, music, art, social studies, dance, health, history, end of day, religion and morning and end of day. Q6 “other” includes follow the leader and prefer not to answer. Q8 “other” includes models healthy living, breaks up lesson, increases physical engagement with learning, increases academic enjoyment, helps transitions and prefer not to answer. Q9 “other” includes inclusion, lack of training, self-conscious students, student buy-in, lack of institutional support, unwilling teacher, discomfort leading physical activity, exhausted teacher, prefer not to answer. Q10 “other” includes look forward to it, embarrassed, request more, view as distraction, unwilling, need to be motivated, don’t enjoy, prefer not to answer. Q12 “other” includes students receive physical activity elsewhere, academics more important, unwilling students, disruptive, teach special education, personally don’t enjoy physical activity. Q14 “other” includes knowledge on how to make DPA accessible and how to maximize use of space, more time, more space, more institutional support