A survey of students\u2019 attitudes to implementing physical activity in Danish vocational education schools

Jesper Von Seelen,Anette Mikkelsen,Maiken Wolderslund

doi:10.1186/s40461-018-0069-4

Abstract

BackgroundWith the purpose of increasing the level of physical activity (PA) among Danish adolescents the Danish government initiated a large scale vocational school reform in 2015 requiring that vocational schools must ensure that students are physically active 45 min every day.PurposeTo investigate how many students’ experience 45 min of PA per day as required by the Danish vocational school reform and to study possible associations between attitudes to PA and different student characteristics for instance students’ self-reported fitness level.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional questionnaire vocational education students’ attitudes and experiences with PA in school was assessed and combined with background questions about age, gender, self-reported PA in school and self-reported fitness level.Results678 students with an average age of 17.2 (SD = 2.1) answered all questions. This study showed that Danish vocational school students self-reported 23.6 (SD = 16.6) minutes of PA per day. Only 18.3% of male students and 13.3% of female students self-reported 45 min of PA per day as required by the vocational school reform. This study also showed that Danish vocational school students had a relatively positive attitude to implementing PA in school. Self-reported fit students had a more positive attitude than self-reported unfit students and likewise students in the PA-high group presented a more positive attitude compared to the PA-low group. In addition, significantly more students with PA allocated on their lesson timetable were in the PA-high group. Students that were glad to attend the BP1 in general also had a more positive attitude towards implementing PA in school. Furthermore, students who were highly satisfied with the vocational schools’ facilities for PA were more likely to be in the PA-high group.

Highlights

With the purpose of increasing the level of physical activity (PA) among Danish adolescents the Danish government initiated a large scale vocational school reform in 2015 requiring that vocational schools must ensure that students are physically active 45 min every day.Purpose: To investigate how many students’ experience 45 min of PA per day as required by the Danish vocational school reform and to study possible associations between attitudes to PA and different student characteristics for instance students’ selfreported fitness level
Using the school setting as a platform to implement health initiatives is in line with a growing global trend (Busch et al 2013) and evidence suggests that school setting initiatives can increase PA levels among adolescents (Dobbins et al 2009)
Self-reporting a low level of PA was independent of self-reported physical fitness level

Summary

Introduction

With the purpose of increasing the level of physical activity (PA) among Danish adolescents the Danish government initiated a large scale vocational school reform in 2015 requiring that vocational schools must ensure that students are physically active 45 min every day. Purpose: To investigate how many students’ experience 45 min of PA per day as required by the Danish vocational school reform and to study possible associations between attitudes to PA and different student characteristics for instance students’ selfreported fitness level. With the purpose of increasing the level of PA among Danish adolescents the Danish government initiated a large scale vocational school reform in 2015. A crucial part of the reform stated that “vocational colleges must organise the teaching in the basic programme in such a way that students participate in physical exercise and activity each day within the overall teaching time to an extent corresponding to an average of 45 min per day” (The Danish Ministry of Education 2014). Support from the school system is vital during this period as health behavior choices of adolescents’ tracks into adulthood (Berenson 2002)

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