School-based interventions on physical inactivity as a risk factor of chronic diseases of lifestyle: A review

Abstract

School -based health education programmes are important in focussing on risk factors for chronic disease of lifestyle (CDL) among young people. The school as a setting can be used to assist learners to make informed decisions regarding health risk behaviours. In this article, research relating to school based interventions was reviewed by addressing physical inactivity as a risk factor for chronic diseases of lifestyle among young people. The literature search included data bases such as Pubmed, CINAHL, Ebscohost for the period of 1998-2008. Articles were assessed for methodological quality and according to the RE-AIM framework. Two assessors favourably rated the quality of the articles reviewed. Of the total number of articles identified, 60 were selected for further investigation but 26 were excluded after the first review and a further 21 following evaluation of the methodological quality and considering the REAIM framework. Thus, 13 articles were eventually reviewed and included as they had a moderate to high score in both methodological assessment and REAIM framework. Results were presented according to the RE-AIM framework and a narrative summary is provided. It was concluded that currently very few interventions were having the desired impact on behavioural change over a period of time and the targeted populations could not sustain the interventions. Thus, as health educators and promoters of behavioural change, it is important that the impact and sustainability of intervention programmes are prioritised.

Keywords: Intervention, schools, youth, RE-AIM, systematic review.