Young Fitness Leaders - peer-led exercise intervention for adolescents

INTERVENTION: Objectives Initial focus groups and interviews were conducted with pupils and teachers at a secondary school in one of the 10% most deprived areas of the country (July 2022, Ethics approval for the focus groups: 2331/22078). Topics included acceptability of the proposed project (that older pupils would lead and mentor younger pupils in the exercises), acceptability of potential exercises (such as boxing, dancing, and running which have been included in previous HIIT studies conducted by members of the research team, the feasibility of carrying out this type of intervention within a school and with the proposed year groups, teachers’ views on feasibility/sustainability. We also explored any potential barriers to carrying out the intervention, as well as practical implications such as how participation would be ensured, and that there were no interruptions to the programme. After analysing the focus group data, relevant themes were extracted that informed the design of the intervention and discussed with the pupils. The next stage is to conduct the feasibility study (this trial). The HIIT intervention will take place over 8‐12 weeks, depending on space availability. Pragmatic randomisation was used by the school based on class availability. The intervention Year 7 class will be split into smaller groups of 4‐6 pupils and assigned a Young Leader. Timetables will be created in conjunction with the key school staff member and distributed to pupils and Young Leaders. The HIIT sessions will take place 2‐3 times a week, for 10‐15 mins a session (break lasts for 15 minutes). One session a week will take place at the beginning of a PE lesson and delivered by the PE teachers, the other sessions will be delivered by the Young Leader CONDITION: Improving physical fitness and mental wellbeing in adolescents ; Not Applicable PRIMARY OUTCOME: ; Feasibility primary outcomes:; 1. Recruitment (how many Y7 pupils opt‐out/how many are available to participate, how many Y12/13 pupils consent to participate) measured using opt‐out forms returned compared with forms given out at baseline; 2. Retention (how many pupils are still involved at the end of the intervention, how many attend each session) measured using registers at baseline and week 8; 3. Acceptability (do Y7 pupils and Young Leaders enjoy the sessions, did teachers find the timing/format acceptable, did they notice any changes in the pupils) measured using focus group discussions at week 9; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Young leaders: in English school year 12 or 13 (aged 16‐18 years) 2. Other pupils: English Year 7 (age 11‐12 years) SECONDARY OUTCOME: ; 1. Change in physical fitness measured using the 20 m shuttle run test, handgrip strength, standing long jump, and sit‐and‐reach test at baseline and week 9; 2. Change in physical activity measured using data collected by the Actigraph accelerometer at baseline and week 9; 3. Change in body composition measured using a BMIz‐score from height and weight at baseline and week 9; ; 4. Changes in the Y7 questionnaire assessed at baseline and week 9:; 4.1. Health‐related quality of life measured using KIDSCREEN‐27; 4.2. Participation in sports clubs measured using the Youth Sports Survey; 4.3. Self‐efficacy measures using the self‐efficacy for physical activity scale; 4.4. Enjoyment measured using the physical activity enjoyment scale; ; 5. Changes in Young Leaders measured using a questionnaire on health‐related quality of life, sports participation, and an adapted version of the Coaching Efficacy Scale at baseline and week 9; 6. Exercise intensity measured in approximately half the Y7 pupils using a wrist‐worn heart rate monitor to check that the intensity of the exercise is high enough during the HIIT sessions; 7. Perceived exertion measured using the children’s OMNI scale during the HIIT sessions, again to check intensity;