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Keeping children healthy during and after COVID-19 pandemic: meeting youth physical activity needs.
Pavlovic, Andjelka; DeFina, Laura F; Natale, Breanna L; Thiele, Shelby E; Walker, Timothy J; Craig, Derek W; Vint, Georgina R; Leonard, David; Haskell, William L; Kohl, Harold W.
  • Pavlovic A; The Cooper Institute, 12330 Preston Road, Dallas, TX, 75230, USA. apavlovic@cooperinst.org.
  • DeFina LF; The Cooper Institute, 12330 Preston Road, Dallas, TX, 75230, USA.
  • Natale BL; The Cooper Institute, 12330 Preston Road, Dallas, TX, 75230, USA.
  • Thiele SE; The Cooper Institute, 12330 Preston Road, Dallas, TX, 75230, USA.
  • Walker TJ; Univeristy of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.
  • Craig DW; Univeristy of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.
  • Vint GR; The Cooper Institute, 12330 Preston Road, Dallas, TX, 75230, USA.
  • Leonard D; The Cooper Institute, 12330 Preston Road, Dallas, TX, 75230, USA.
  • Haskell WL; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.
  • Kohl HW; Univeristy of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.
BMC Public Health ; 21(1): 485, 2021 03 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1133590
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this study was to 1) examine the maintenance of Physical Education and physical activity during the distance learning time, 2) determine the resources educators are utilizing to deliver PE curricula, and 3) understand the challenges experienced by educators during distance learning.

METHODS:

A survey was sent to a cohort of school-based fitness assessment software users. Respondents were largely school-based individuals including PE teachers (n = 1789), school (n = 62) and district administrators (n = 64), nurses (n = 3), and "other" (n = 522).

RESULTS:

Of 2440 respondents, most were from a city or suburb (69.7%), elementary or middle school (72.3%), and had Title 1 status (60.4%), an indicator of low socioeconomic status. Most campuses were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic (97.8%). Of the schools closed during the pandemic, only 2.8% had no prior PE requirements and that increased to 21% during the pandemic. In schools that remained open during the pandemic, 7.7% had no prior PE requirements and this increased to 60.5%. Importantly, 79% of respondents reported that students were either "significantly less" or "somewhat less" physically active during the closure. For closed schools, the most frequently cited challenges included "student access to online learning", "teacher/student communication" and "teacher remote work arrangements". For open schools, the most commonly reported challenges included "social distancing", "access to gymnasium/equipment", and "concern for personal health and wellbeing".

CONCLUSION:

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused important reductions in PE requirements and time engaged in physical activity. Challenges experienced by teachers were identified for closed and open schools.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Physical Education and Training / Students / Exercise / School Teachers / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: North America / Caribbean / Puerto Rico Language: English Journal: BMC Public Health Journal subject: Public Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12889-021-10545-x

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Physical Education and Training / Students / Exercise / School Teachers / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: North America / Caribbean / Puerto Rico Language: English Journal: BMC Public Health Journal subject: Public Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12889-021-10545-x