Examination of the effects of physical activity enhancing counseling services on physical activity level in schools

Objective: The study was carried out to determine the effect of the Ministry of Health PhysiCal Activity Guide(2014) on physiCal education program prepared for primary school children on children's physiCal activity knowledge and behaviors. Method: This study is an experimental study which has been conducted pre-test and post-test to 51 children aged 9-10 years at fourth grade in a full-time public school in province of Antalya. Anthropometric measurements (height and weight), Accelerometer and Fitnessgram measurements, PhysiCal activity questionnaires (PAQ1, PAQ2), Bouchard Inventory and The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) were administered to the participants (training group=26, control group=25) before and after the school-based physiCal activity program. Spearman or Pearson Product Moment Correlation were done accordence with the rusults of normality tests among Fitnessgram tests, accelerometer, PedsQL and PAQ's scores. Sample T test or Mann- Whitney U test were used accordance with the results of normality tests among group scores in each physiCal activity level. Results: There was no statistiCally significant difference between groups before the study(p> 0.05). It was determined that after 12 weeks physiCal activity training groups increased on Accelerometer measurements(Total Calory and Activity Cal.), PhysiCal activity questionnaires (PAQ1, PAQ2), Bouchard Inventory(p <0.05). It was determined that there was a significant positive high correlation between PhysiCal activity questionnaires (PAQ1, PAQ2) and Bouchard Inventory(p <.01). It was seen that there was a positive poor correlation between Accelerometer measurements(Total Calory and Activity Cal.) and Bouchard Inventory (p <0.05). Conclusion: PhysiCal education program prepared from Ministry of Health PhysiCal Activity Guide (2014) for primary school children on positively contributed to the physiCal activity and behaviors of the participating children. Keywords: Children, physiCal activity, school health, accelerometer,