ABSTRACT
Introduction: In Australia, it is estimated that 45% of adults meet the aerobic training recommendations (i.e., 150-300 minutes of MVPA) and only 9-30% meet the resistance training (RT) guidelines (i.e., minimum 2 sessions/week). Given the lack of 'scalable' physical activity community-based interventions promoting RT, the aim of this effectiveness trial (based on the published ecofit efficacy trial) was to determine the effects of an innovative community-based multicomponent physical activity intervention promoting resistance and aerobic-based physical activity using outdoor gym equipment, smartphone technology, and social support. Method(s): The ecofit effectiveness trial was evaluated using a two-arm (intervention versus wait-list control) randomised controlled design, with assessments at baseline, 3 (primary time-point) and 9-months (follow-up). Participants were recruited from the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas, NSW. Eligible participants were aged 18-80 years, had access to a smartphone, did not meet the aerobic and/or resistance-based physical activity guidelines, and passed the Adult Pre-Exercise Screening Tool. The intervention components included (i) smartphone technology (i.e., purpose-built application that included standardised workouts using local outdoor gym equipment across 11 locations), (ii) social support (i.e., option to enrol as a group and join the ecofit Facebook group), and (iii) a 90-minute introductory session. Linear mixed models were conducted with an adjusted alpha (p<.025) to account for the two primary outcomes of upper (i.e., push-up test) and lower (sit-to-stand test) body strength. Result(s): Participants (N=245;mean age 53.44 (SD=13.9);72% women) were recruited. There were no statistically significant (p<.025) group-by-time effects for the primary outcomes (i.e., upper and lower body muscular fitness) at 3-months. At 9-months, however, there were significant improvements in both upper (1.42 repetitions, 95%CI=0.25, 2.59) and lower body (2.6 repetitions, 95%CI=0.41, 4.82) muscular fitness, compared to controls. Among the secondary outcomes at 3-months, mean differences in visceral adipose tissue (-59.52 grams, 95%CI=-122.17, 3.12), and total fat (-494.30 grams, 95%CI=-1012.39, 23.79) approached statistical significance (p's=0.06). Discussion/Conclusion: To our knowledge this is the first community-based RT intervention that has employed a scalable approach targeting the general population. Despite the mixed findings, it was encouraging to see beneficial effects on the primary outcomes, particularly in light of the disruption to the trial caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The positive findings presented warrant further examination of this scalable intervention mode for its dissemination to other local government areas. Impact and application to the field: * The ecofit program is promising with significant statistical and clinical effects and could be considered to be scaled-up in other Local Government Districts across Australia and abroad. This study was funded by NHMRC grant (APP1134914, 2017), registered with the Australian and NZ Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12619000868189) and received Human Ethics approval from the University of Newcastle (H-2018-0060). Conflict of interest statement: My co-authors and I acknowledge that we have no conflict of interest of relevance to the submission of this . Copyright © 2022
ABSTRACT
In 2018, the Smart City Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) and Research Experience for Teachers (RET) (SCR2) Mega-Site program was launched, aiming to improve the participation and graduation rates of post-secondary students of underrepresented and minority groups in the field of Engineering. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the SCR2 program has been successfully conducted for the last three years, engaging a consortium of 14 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and 1 Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, is the lead institution for this program. The SCR2 program is designed to engage underperforming REU students in research opportunities demonstrated to improve students' retention and graduation rates. In addition, teachers from local community colleges and high schools are recruited in this program as RET participants. The experience of RET participants in hands-on engineering research projects helps them encourage their students to pursue engineering as a career. The SCR2 program offers summer research experience (eight weeks for students and six weeks for teachers) focusing on smart and connected cities. In this paper, we present our learnings from the last three years of the SCR2 program, which will inform the progress of engineering education and training in the United States. While the 2019 SCR2 program was able to offer on-campus research experience and mentorship for the REU/RETs, the 2020 program had to go virtual to accommodate the extraneous circumstances posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this transition, the 2020 program engaged 32 undergraduates and 12 teachers, who successfully participated in 12 research projects across three host sites. Learning from the experience of the summer 2020 virtual program, the 2021 SCR2 program was redesigned as a hybrid program and was able to bring six host sites together, offering 18 projects in which 47 undergraduates and 23 teachers participated. One major success of the program was the positive impact of remote learning on both students and teachers. Despite the hybrid nature of the program, students excelled in their technical skills due to the effective collaboration using video conferencing tools. However, during the post-program survey, one primary concern was reported regarding the reduced participation of women students in the program. Simultaneously, the women participants reported less satisfaction and reduced confidence and knowledge gain than men. The transition of the SCR2 program from on-site to online and finally hybrid model exemplifies how innovation in engineering education can overcome the challenges posed by the health crisis. However, it is evident from the assessment results that more attention is needed concerning the experience of women in the program to improve their sense of belongingness in the field of engineering. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2022.