The Danish “11 for Health” program raises health knowledge, well‐being, and fitness in ethnic minority 10‐ to 12‐year‐olds
Knud Ryom, Søren Riis Christiansen, Anne‐Marie Elbe, Charlotte Sandager Aggestrup, Esben Elholm Madsen, Mads Madsen, Malte Nejst Larsen, Peter Krustrup
Abstract
Abstract Objectives This study investigated the effects of the health promotion intervention “11 for Health in Denmark” program on 10‐ to 12‐year‐old ethnic minority schoolchildren's enjoyment, health knowledge, well‐being, and fitness. Methods 1122 Danish 5th grade schoolchildren with ethnic minority background from 154 schools were randomized (5:1) to an intervention group (IG, n = 944) or a control group (CG, n = 178). The IG and CG were also divided into subgroups of children active in a sports club (IGPA: n = 644; CGPA: n = 122) and not active in a sports club (IGPI: n = 300, CGPI: n = 56). IG participated in the “11 for Health in Denmark” 11‐week program, consisting of 2 × 45 min per week of football drills, small‐sided games, and health education, whereas CG continued their regular activities. Pre‐post physical testing and questionnaires were applied (short version of the multidimensional well‐being questionnaire KIDSCREEN‐27, and a 34‐item health knowledge questionnaire). Results The “11 for Health in Denmark” program was rated moderate‐to‐high on a 1–5 scale for enjoyment by girls (3.57) and boys (3.65). The intervention had positive between‐group effect on health knowledge in relation to hygiene (IG vs GC: 10.6% points (CI95%: 6.9:14.3), p < 0.05), nutrition (9.6% point (CI95%: 7.4:11.8), p < 0.01) and physical activity 4.4% points (CI95%: 2.2:6.6) as well as overall health knowledge (5.7% points, (CI95%: 4.3;7.1), p < 0.05), with similar effects for girls and boys. The IGPI subgroup showed a positive effect on well‐being ( p = 0.04, school and learning) and also fitness effects on performance and VO 2 max ( p = 0.02: p = 0.01). The IGPA subgroup showed a positive effect on fitness scores ( p = 0.02, BMI). Conclusion The intervention program was enjoyable and had a positive impact on health knowledge of ethnic minority background schoolchildren. In addition, the intervention program had the strongest positive effects on well‐being and fitness scores for the non‐sports club‐active children.