SOOPEN: a tailored systematic observation tool to assess children’s physical activity and social interaction in schoolyards

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Children frequently engage in diverse activities and behaviors that are broadly defined as play. The schoolyard recess offers a unique context for children to be physically active while freely engaging with peers in a variety of activities. Previous validated observational tools which evaluated children's physical activity during schoolyard recess do not collect social interactions (SOPLAY) or if assessed, it is at the individual level (SOCARP) not accounting for group dynamics. In this work, we developed the observational tool SOOPEN (System for Observing Outdoor Play Environments in Neighborhood Schools) to evaluate physical activity and social interaction dynamics at the group level during schoolyard recess. METHODS: A first version of SOOPEN was designed combining SOPLAY and SOCARP indicators and was piloted in 4 public primary schools in Barcelona during autumn 2019. After two independent researchers had reviewed the initial results, changes were applied to refine the protocol and the fieldwork data recording form. Finally, in autumn 2020 the subsequent tool was used in 11 schools. Schoolyard recess was systematically assessed by two observers, simultaneously and independently, during two different days at each school. After the second cycle of observations, some adjustments were made to improve data recording uniformity regarding activity types, social interactions and shade cover. Exceptional protocol measures implemented in the schools concerning the COVID-19 pandemic were considered to better tailor the tool to the adapted schoolyard use. RESULTS:The final SOOPEN tool protocol includes a set of coding rules and procedures to record 6 observational quantitative variables related to children's physical activity and social interaction during schoolyard recess at the group level. CONCLUSIONS:SOOPEN represents a valuable step forward to evaluate children's physical activity and social interaction, providing objective and quantitative reliable data based on systematic observation, adapted to an exceptional scenario where current Covid-19 protocols have redefined the use of schoolyards. KEYWORDS: Methodological study design, Children's environmental health, Environmental epidemiology