The Youth - Physical Activity Towards Health Intervention in Northern Ireland

Developing and Feasibility Testing the Youth - Physical Activity Towards Health Intervention in Post-primary Schools in Northern Ireland

The Y-PATH programme is an evidence-based intervention programme that has been found to be successful at increasing levels of physical activity in school children in the Republic of Ireland. The Irish Heart Foundation collaborated with Dublin City University and University College Cork to disseminate the programme nationally. The intervention programme aims to improve physical activity levels of adolescents through education about the importance of physical activity for health and the development of fundamental movement skills, which are basic movements associated with physical activity, such as, catching, throwing, and running. The main aims of the Y-PATH NI study are:

• To explore Y-PATH as an intervention 'template', to lead the development of a research-informed model suitable for feasibility testing in a Northern Ireland context (Y-PATH NI).
• To undertake feasibility testing of the Y-PATH NI multi-component intervention aimed at increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 11-14 year olds.
• To conduct a process evaluation to determine primarily fidelity, but also acceptance and sustainability of the Y-PATH NI intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

Schools

• Post-primary schools in NI with at least one Year 8 class group commencing in the academic year 2023 will be eligible to take part in the study.
• Schools must have a minimum of one PE period/week timetabled for incoming Year 8 pupils,
• have an indoor sports hall (to facilitate intervention delivery)
• employ a qualified PE teacher (with at least 1 years' experience) to teach PE to the Year 8 class group.

Pupils

• All pupils (male and female) in the Year 8 classes identified by the school, who can take part in PE classes, will be eligible to participate in the study.

Teachers

• Male and female school staff
• PE specialist teachers (with at least 1 years' experience)
• Staff need to be over 18 years old.

Parents/Guardians

• Male and female parents/guardians
• aged over 18 years old
• with at least one child participating in the Y-PATH NI intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

Schools

• Primary schools
• Schools which do not provided a minimum of one PE period/week timetabled for incoming Year 8 pupils,
• Schools without an indoor sports hall (to facilitate intervention delivery)
• Schools that do not employ a qualified PE teacher (with at least 1 years' experience) to teach PE to the Year 8 class group.

Pupils

• Pupils in Year 9 and above
• Pupils who do not take part in PE class (determined by the school)

Teachers

• Teachers not involved with the Y-PATH NI intervention

Parents/Guardians

• Not having at least one child who participated in the Y-PATH NI intervention