High Levels Of Enjoyment Research Articles

Exercise-based telerehabilitation for the management of chronic pain in people with severe haemophilia: a mixed-methods feasibility study

BackgroundChronic pain is reported by between 30 and 71% of people with haemophilia (PWH). Exercise is shown to be effective for pain management in other arthritides, but it remains unclear if such an approach is effective or acceptable to PWH. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a telerehabilitation exercise intervention for PWH living with chronic pain.MethodsThis was a multisite, non-randomised, pre-post feasibility design, with a nested qualitative study. People with severe haemophilia > 18 years, living with chronic pain, were recruited. The intervention comprised 12 low-impact/moderate intensity, individualised exercise sessions and 3 knowledge-sharing and discussion sessions. Primary objectives assessed according to predefined progression criteria were as follows: (a) recruitment rate (5 participants enrolled per site over 8 weeks), (b) adherence (≥ 75% participants would adhere to ≥ 75% of sessions), (c) follow-up rate (≥ 75% completion of self-reported measures), (d) fidelity (intervention delivered as described in protocol) and (e) safety (≤ 30% participants would report adverse events). Acceptability was evaluated from thematic analysis of post-intervention participant interviews. Preliminary evaluation of self-reported pain, function and quality of life (QoL) was a secondary objective. Results were reported using descriptive statistics integrated with qualitative findings.ResultsTen PWH were recruited and completed the intervention. Nine agreed to be interviewed post intervention. Attendance at individual sessions was 84.5% compared to 52.1% for the group sessions. Outcome measures were successfully completed for 100% at baseline, 70% at intervention end and 60% at 3-month follow-up. No serious adverse events were recorded. Group median values in outcome measures (pain, function, QoL) showed minimal change post intervention. Participant interviews highlighted high levels of enjoyment, confidence in continuing exercises independently and positive views of virtual delivery and condition-specific exercise.ConclusionsRecruitment rate and safety met the predefined progression criteria. Fidelity partially met the progression criteria, but the follow-up rate for self-reported measures did not. The study was acceptable to both participants and physiotherapists. Further intervention development is needed to review approaches to outcome measure collection and refine the usefulness of the knowledge-sharing sessions.Trial registrationThe study was prospectively registered on 9 July 2021: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number ISRCTN 17454597.

Enjoyment, as an Instrument for Academic Quality Management, in the Peruvian Higher University Education

In recent years, educational organisations have used different tools and strategies to enhance their services, such as gamification, flipped classroom and Project-Based Learning have been imple-mented to provide quality education. In this sense, enjoyment, which is focused on the emotional well-being of students, contributes to integral formation and academic performance. Therefore, the target was to explore students' perceptions about enjoyment, as a tool that allows identifying the needs, and weaknesses, addressing the risks of educational organisations of higher education as well, so that it provides educational agents to conduct improvement actions for the benefit of interested parties. A quantitative approach was assumed, with a non-experimental design and descriptive scope, in which a Scale of Enjoyment with Learning of Science Subjects was used, adapted to collect information concerning the enjoyment level of students in the first cycles of higher education. The results revealed that 78% of physics students experience high levels of en-joyment, evidencing a positive attitude towards the professor, concerning personal enjoyment and social as well. In conclusion, enjoyment of the teaching-learning process is essential for academic quality, as it helps students achieve significant learning. Furthermore, it enables higher education institutions to improve academic quality management and provide quality services.

The effects of folk-dance in schools on physical and mental health for at-risk adolescents: a pilot intervention study.

We present the findings from a pilot study to evaluate the effects of a six-week adapted folk-dance intervention on physical and mental health for at-risk adolescents conducted in schools. At-risk adolescents are at particular risk for sedentary behavior, poor mental health, and lower quality of life, and are likely to benefit from motivating and health-promoting activities such as dance. However, it can be challenging to conduct and evaluate evidence-based interventions with this population. We conducted a convergent parallel mixed-method design using pre-post measures of mental well-being, as well as pre-post measures using inertial measurement units to assess physical activity during a 6-week adapted folk-dance intervention. At the completion of the study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with all stakeholder groups. We observed significant improvements in mental well-being, as indicated by increased WEMWBS and MHC-SF scores, while the UCLA score showed no significant change, with these outcomes independent of age and gender. Furthermore, at-risk adolescents reduced the time spent in stationary/resting position, while their heart rates were also reduced by ∼15% in such conditions. Our results suggest that at-risk youth who participated in adapted folk-dance became more enthusiastic and showed more willingness to move over the course of the intervention. Quantitative results were supported by interviews, which found that participants responded positively to the adapted folk-dance classes, and reported both elevated physical exertion and high levels of enjoyment. The mixed-method research design also provided insights into the suitability of data collection methods for this hard-to-reach population. We report on these outcomes, including best practices for working within schools on health-promoting physical activities.

Effects of mindfulness and movement on affect and vitality.

Increasing levels of distress and barriers to healthcare have coincided with increasing use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). While mindfulness and movement interventions may improve wellbeing, little research has compared the effectiveness of these two approaches. This single intervention study aimed to (1) explore the effects of two brief, online, self-administered mindfulness and movement interventions on affect and vitality, and (2) establish whether changes in affect and vitality could be predicted by age, gender, general distress, previous CAM experience and enjoyment of the intervention. Participants (n = 62) were randomly allocated to follow a brief online mindfulness or movement intervention. Levels of affect (using PANAS) and subjective vitality (using the Subjective Vitality Scale) were measured pre and post intervention. Demographics, experience with CAM and general distress (using the DASS-21) were collected pre intervention, while level of enjoyment (using the ENJOY scale) was measured post intervention. Open-text responses gathered qualitative data on participant experience. Participants completing the mindfulness intervention reported increased vitality and decreased positive and negative affect. Those completing the movement intervention reported increased vitality and positive affect and decreased negative affect. Higher DASS-21 levels were predictive of greater reductions in negative affect. Higher levels of enjoyment were predictive of greater increases in positive affect and vitality. Differences between mindfulness and movement interventions may indicate that they could have targeted applications. While further research is necessary, these brief, online interventions may provide a sustainable, accessible self-management and wellbeing intervention.

Persepsi Siswa Terhadap Quizizz Terintegrasi Google Classroom untuk Meningkatkan Minat Belajar Bahasa Indonesia

The focus of this research is the implementation of Quizizz integrated with Google Classroom (GCR) as an innovative solution to enhance students' learning interest. The main objective is to explore how the application of this technology influences students' perceptions of the Indonesian language subject and how it motivates them to learn better. By detailing students' perceptions and the impact of technology, this study provides profound insights into the potential of technology-based learning in creating engaging and effective learning experiences. The research method employed is classroom action research conducted at SD Negeri Sumber 2, involving 10 fifth-grade students. Data were collected through questionnaires, observations, and interviews. The results indicate that learning through Quizizz integrated with GCR has a positive impact on students' learning interest, with high levels of enjoyment, interest, and attention reported by the students. Although students' engagement in online learning shows variations, the use of this technology significantly contributes to improving students' learning interest. The implications of this research suggest that e-learning approaches through platforms like Quizizz integrated with GCR have substantial potential to enhance students' learning interest in the context of digitally-transformed education.

Online social interaction skill group for adolescents on the autism spectrum: Preliminary outcomes of the START Connections program

BackgroundPromising social skill interventions have emerged to target socialization vulnerabilities of autistic adolescents, but there remains a critical need for effective dissemination of these programs to improve service access. The Social Tools And Rules for Teens (START) Program is a group-based intervention program for increasing social motivation while enhancing social communication skill use. MethodThe current study aimed to evaluate START Connections, an online adaptation of the original START model. We (1) assessed the preliminary efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of START Connections, and (2) compared its outcomes to a prior in-person START clinical trial. Participants were 41 autistic adolescents aged 11–16 and their parent. Each bi-weekly START Connections session consisted of a check-in, socialization time, group discussion and practice of social topics, group activity, and check-out. ResultsAttendance for the program was high and teens endorsed high levels of enjoyment and skill improvement. Analysis of treatment gains yielded evidence of increased emotion regulation, social skills, and social motivation. Improvements in behaviorally coded target skills were observed for many participants during naturalistic conversations. An analytical comparison revealed a comparable trend in outcomes between START Connections and in-person START groups for social challenges, self-reported social skill use, and social motivation and competence. ConclusionOverall, these pilot outcomes are extremely promising and suggest that the START Connections model is feasible and has the potential to improve social communication and emotion regulation in autistic teens. These results warrant a follow-up, RCT investigation evaluating the unique benefits of in-person versus online START Programs.

What is the role of out of programme clinical fellowships in the era of Shape of Training? A single-centre cohort study

BackgroundThe updated Shape of Training curriculum has shortened the duration of specialty training. We present the potential role of out of programme clinical fellowships.MethodAn electronic online survey was sent to...

The role of social presence in live and recorded concert viewing: Effects on enjoyment and emotional well-being

In recent years livestream events have become increasingly popular, in part to cope with social isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential of livestreams to mitigate the negative effects of isolation lacks empirical evidence. To address this gap, we compared the effect of watching a concert on livestream with watching a recording of the same event on viewer's social presence, enjoyment, social connectedness, and loneliness. Livestream viewing was expected to result in higher levels of enjoyment and social connectedness, and lower levels of loneliness compared to viewing the recording. The effect of concert viewing mode on viewers' experience was expected to be mediated by social presence. In line with expectations, participants reported higher social presence and enjoyment in the livestream condition compared to the recorded condition, although, participants reported similar levels of social connectedness and loneliness in both conditions. Moreover, we did not find support for social presence as a mediator. In sum, while livestreamed events can enhance feelings of social presence and be more enjoyable, further research is needed to understand whether and how this can be utilized to mitigate loneliness and lack of social connectedness.

Virtual focus groups among individuals with use disorders: assessing feasibility and acceptability in an underserved clinical population.

There are substantial barriers to conducting research among individuals with stigmatized and complicated health conditions like substance use disorders. These barriers slow progress when developing, refining, and assessing interventions to better treat underserved populations. Virtual focus groups are an innovative method for collecting data from individuals via a discreet and accessible platform which can inform novel as well as existing treatment approaches. This article reports on the feasibility and acceptability of virtual focus groups as a mechanism to recruit and engage geographically and demographically diverse samples of participants with substance use disorders that are otherwise logistically difficult to assess. Participants were assessed for eligibility for a virtual focus group study based on demographic features, drug use history, and psychiatric history via a remote, interview-based screening. Focus groups were completed anonymously without video or name-sharing. Discussion contributions, quantified with number of times speaking and total number of words spoken, were compared across gender, and treatment status. Participants provided quantitative and qualitative feedback on the focus group experience in a follow-up survey. Focus groups (N=26) based in geographical areas throughout the United States were conducted with 88 individuals with opioid use disorder or stimulant use disorder. Discussion contributions were comparable between genders and among individuals in treatment versus those seeking treatment. A follow-up survey (n=50, 57% of focus group participants) reflected high levels of enjoyment, comfort, and honesty during focus group discussions. Findings suggest virtual focus groups can be an effective and efficient tool for substance use research.

Exergaming in augmented reality is tailor-made for aerobic training and enjoyment among healthy young adults.

In recent years, the use of exergaming for physical activity practice has gain in popularity but few is known about the use of augmented reality for physical activity, particularly at moderate to vigorous intensities. The present study examined the use of an exergame in augmented reality for aerobic training in healthy young adults. In a within-subject design, 18 participants (19.8 ± 1.4 years of age) have performed two physical activity sessions playing dodgeball. Indeed, they realized a classical dodgeball session and an exergaming session with an augmented reality version of dodgeball game. Physical loads and intensities were measured with accelerometers, RPE and heart sensors. Enjoyment experienced during the sessions was measured with the short version of the physical activity enjoyment scale questionnaire. Results revealed that both physical load and intensity were appropriate for aerobic training in the two conditions (i.e., classical and exergame in augmented reality) although values were significantly higher in the classical condition. Enjoyment was high in the two conditions with a higher significant value in the classical condition compared to the exergame in augmented reality condition. Put together, these results indicate that an aerobic state can be attained through both physical gameplay and its augmented reality equivalent and was associated to a high level of enjoyment among healthy young adults.

Strong culture, healthy lifestyles: a mixed methods feasibility study for a co-created afterschool cultural programme for Australian Aboriginal children

BackgroundHaving a strong connection to culture and Country is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of Australian Aboriginal children. The aim of the research was to evaluate the feasibility of study methods and programme implementation of a co-created afterschool cultural programme, and identify areas for improvement.MethodsAboriginal Relational Research Methodology and mixed methods were applied to evaluate the feasibility of the implementation of the programme and study methods using a non-randomised single-group study design. Australian Aboriginal children and their siblings aged 5–13 years were recruited within regional New South Wales, Australia. The primary outcomes for feasibility included recruitment rates of children and Aboriginal programme mentors, compliance rates of outcome data collection and of the planned programme activities, programme attendance, retention rates and mean enjoyment scores. Follow-up yarning circles were conducted with the children, their parents/caregivers, programme mentors and teachers to explore aspects of feasibility, and areas for improvement.ResultsA total of 90 caregivers consented to their children (n = 111) being part of the research. Sixteen Aboriginal mentors were recruited to deliver the programmes across the communities. Overall, 74.4% of all health outcome measures were completed across baseline (86.5%) and follow-up (55.9%). Only 61.0% of the programme activities were delivered as originally planned. The average programme attendance rate was 70.0% with a 92.0% retention rate. Eighty-nine percent of children reported a high level of enjoyment with the programmes. Follow-up yarning identified the importance of relational methodologies and flexibility within the programme design and implementation to ensure programmes were adapted to the local community, conditions and differing age groups. Considerations for future programmes included the timing of the programme and identifying health outcome assessment tools and methods that acknowledge cultural protocols and experiences.ConclusionsEngaging the communities in the development, implementation and evaluation of the programmes were key to community support of the programme and conducting the feasibility study. Future programmes and evaluations need to be built on strong partnerships and embrace flexible and culturally embedded methodologies in order to be adaptive and responsive to research approaches, communities and to Country.Trial registrationACTRN12619001224112. Retrospectively registered on 05 September 2019.

Virtual Reality-Based Interventions for Improving Learning Outcomes in Children with ADHD

The utilization of virtual reality (VR) has been increasingly applied in various fields, including medicine and education, to address the challenges faced by children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and provide solutions. This study investigates the impact of VR intervention on the academic performance of ADHD children. The researchers implemented a modified VR game specifically designed to accommodate the unique challenges and preferences of ADHD children. In evaluating the academic performance of ADHD children, a pre-test and post-test were performed on both the VR intervention group and the control group. The pre-test aimed to determine baseline academic performance, while the post-test assessed any improvements following the intervention. The study included a total of 20 participants, with 10 assigned to the VR intervention group and 10 to the control group. Moreover, the researchers recorded the behavior of the child during VR gameplay and performed post-gameplay interviews to assess the user experience of the VR environment. Quantitative analysis, including ANCOVA, reveals a statistically significant improvement in post-test scores among participants in the VR intervention group compared to the control group, suggesting the effectiveness of VR in improving learning outcomes. The results indicate high levels of enjoyment and engagement among participants, with positive emotional responses. Overall, the study underscores the potential of VR interventions as effective tools for addressing the educational needs of children with ADHD.

Exploring the Effects of Using Podcasts on EFL College Students with Low English Proficiency Listening Comprehension

This study delves into the impact of using Podcasts on college students with low English proficiency. The objectives of the study encompass understanding students’ attitudes toward Podcasts concerning listening comprehension, evaluating the influence of Podcasts on motivation for listening skills, and comparing pre-test and post-test results. Employing a mixed-method design, quantitative data were gathered through pre-and post-tests as well as a questionnaire, while qualitative data were derived from semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that a majority of students exhibited improvement in their post-test results, underscoring the effectiveness of Podcasts. The responses from the questionnaire indicated that the students derived high levels of enjoyment and experienced improved skills as a result of Podcast usage. Notably, motivation and vocabulary acquisition also displayed significant gains. The semi-structured interviews further corroborate the positive impact of Podcasts on language acquisition. Podcasts actively engage students through their versatility and stimulating content, fostering positive attitudes, motivation, and enjoyment. Ultimately, this study highlights Podcasts as a valuable tool for enhancing language education, offering autonomy, exposure to authentic materials, and heightened engagement. This study recommends further exploration of Podcasts’ efficacy for college students of English by conducting larger-scale studies encompassing diverse proficiency levels and extended timelines. Incorporating student perspectives and insights into future research endeavors will enrich understanding and application. This study contributes to the enhancement of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ listening skills through the integration of Podcast, providing a foundation for future investigations.

Exploring the effectiveness of digital games as motivational tools for English language learning in primary school settings

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of digital games as motivational tools for English language learning in primary school settings. In recent years, the integration of digital games into educational settings has gained significant attention due to their potential to enhance students' motivation and engagement. However, limited research has explored the specific impact of digital games on English language learning in primary school contexts. To address this gap, a mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative measures of student motivation and language proficiency with qualitative data obtained through interviews and observations. The study involved a sample of primary school students aged 8 to 10 years in Shymkent, who participated in a digital game-based English language learning program over a period of 10 weeks. The findings revealed that the use of digital games positively influenced students' motivation to learn English and contributed to improvements in language proficiency. The students reported high levels of enjoyment and engagement while playing the games, which resulted in increased participation and active learning. Additionally, the qualitative data highlighted the potential of digital games to foster collaborative and communicative skills, as well as to provide opportunities for autonomous learning. However, some challenges, such as limited access to technology and the need for appropriate game design and pedagogical integration, were identified. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on gamification and digital technologies in education, emphasizing the potential of digital games as motivational tools for English language learning in primary school settings.

The promise of digital storytelling for kindergarteners: language and technology skills

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the impact of digital storytelling activities on children's language skills, specifically focusing on expressive, receptive, and narrative abilities, as well as their utilization of technological elements in their stories. The study involved 18 children who were enrolled in a public kindergarten classroom, and it employed a mixed-methods design. Over six weeks, the children participated in digital storytelling activities twice a week. Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured children's language skills, and digital stories were evaluated for technical elements. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted to gain insights into the children's experiences. The findings revealed significant improvements in the participants’ receptive, expressive, and narrative skill scores following the six-week digital storytelling intervention. The children expressed high levels of enjoyment and interest in the digital storytelling activities. These results were discussed in relation to existing literature, and the implications of the findings were explored.

Improving Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Adolescents With Physical Disabilities Through Group-Based Virtual Reality Gaming: Feasibility Pre-Post Trial Study.

Adolescents with disabilities experience alarmingly higher rates of depression and isolation than peers without disabilities. There is a need to identify interventions that can improve mental health and isolation among this underserved population. Innovations in virtual reality (VR) gaming "standalone" headsets allow greater access to immersive high-quality digital experiences, due to their relatively low cost. This study had three purposes, which were to (1) examine the preliminary effects of a low-cost, home-based VR multiplayer recreation and socialization on depression, socialization, and loneliness; (2) quantify the acceptability of the program as measured by participant adherence, total play time, and exercise time; and (3) identify and describe behavioral mechanisms that affected participant engagement. This was a single-group, pre- to postdesign trial. The intervention was conducted at home. Participants were recruited from a children's hospital. The intervention lasted 4 weeks and included 2×1-hour sessions per week of supervised peer-to-peer gaming. Participants used the Meta Quest 2 headset to meet peers and 2 coaches in a private party held digitally. Aim 1 was evaluated with the Children's Depression Inventory 2 Short Form and the University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale 20 items, which are measures of social isolation and loneliness, respectively. Aim 2 was evaluated through the following metrics: participant adherence, the types of games played, friendship building and playtime, and program satisfaction and enjoyment. In total, 12 people enrolled (mean age 16.6, SD 1.8 years; male: n=9 and female: n=3), and 8 people completed the program. Mean attendance for the 8 participants was 77% (49 sessions of 64 total possible sessions; mean 6, SD 2 sessions). A trend was observed for improved Children's Depression Inventory 2 Short Form scores (mean preintervention score 7.25, SD 4.2; mean postintervention score 5.38, SD 4.1; P=.06; effect size=0.45, 95% CI -0.15 to 3.9), but this was not statistically significant; no difference was observed for University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale 20 items scores. Most participants (7/8, 88%) stated that they became friends with a peer in class; 50% (4/8) reported that they played with other people. Participants reported high levels of enjoyment and satisfaction with how the program was implemented. Qualitative analysis resulted in 4 qualitative themes that explained behavioral mechanisms that determined engagement in the program. The study findings demonstrated that a brief VR group program could be valuable for potentially improving mental health among adolescents with physical disabilities. Participants built friendships with peers and other players on the web, using low-cost consumer equipment that provided easy access and strong scale-up potential. Study findings identified factors that can be addressed to enhance the program within a larger clinical trial. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05259462; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05259462. RR2-10.2196/42651.

Analysis and Optimization Strategies of Pedestrian Environment around TOD Rail Transit Stations in Guangzhou

This study extensively examines the urban dynamics of Guangzhou, a city that has notably embraced and incorporated the concept of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) into its urban structure. Through a comprehensive and meticulously designed questionnaire survey, the research aims to understand different demographic groups' diverse preferences and needs. The main focus is comprehending individuals' views and experiences regarding the pedestrian environment near Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) stations. The study findings reveal a wide range of outcomes, indicating significant variations in walking distance tolerance and environmental satisfaction among different populations. Notably, walking distance emerged as a crucial factor, as a positive correlation was found between shorter perceived distances and higher levels of enjoyment. Evaluating pedestrian amenities reveals their insufficiency and emphasizes the need for improved pedestrian comfort and infrastructure. Various factors influence individuals' satisfaction with the walking environment. The assessment of pedestrian infrastructure in Guangzhou's Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) areas generally shows positive feedback, but there is still room for improvement. This study analyzes the current shortcomings in pedestrian infrastructure and proposes practical recommendations for enhancement. Its purpose is to provide a basis for policy formulation and future renovations to enhance pedestrian mobility near TOD train stations in Guangzhou.

Juegos con propósito para la anotación delCorpus Oral Sonoro del Español rural

AbstractThe study of dialectal microvariation in spoken Spanish faces challenges due to the absence of an adequate morpho-syntactically annotated and parsed corpus. Therefore, this article introduces a novel technique, a game-based approach, for creating resources for non-standard Spanish language varieties. The article provides an overview of the progress in designing three Games With A Purpose (GWAPs) prototypes, to wit, Agentes, Tesoros, andAnotatlón. These games aim to facilitate the confirmation and correction of the morpho-syntactic tagging task of theCOSER-AP(Corpus Oral y Sonoro del Español Rural-Anotado y Parseado, ‘Annotated and Parsed Audible Corpus of Spoken Rural Spanish’). First, the article presents the methodology used to build the games. Second, it offers a detailed description of the implemented Game Design Elements (GDEs). Finally, the article discusses the results of a pilot evaluation that assesses player enjoyment and the linguistic accuracy. Findings are promising, withTesorosandAnotatlóndemonstrating high levels of enjoyment. Additionally,Agentesproves to be effective in collecting a large number of annotations. The linguistic accuracy also shows potential benefits of gamified approaches in linguistic annotation tasks. However, it also emphasizes the importance of considering regional in player assessment and training them in multidialectal contexts.

A novel socially assistive robotic platform for cognitive-motor exercises for individuals with Parkinson's Disease: a participatory-design study from conception to feasibility testing with end users.

The potential of socially assistive robots (SAR) to assist in rehabilitation has been demonstrated in contexts such as stroke and cardiac rehabilitation. Our objective was to design and test a platform that addresses specific cognitive-motor training needs of individuals with Parkinson's disease (IwPD). We used the participatory design approach, and collected input from a total of 62 stakeholders (IwPD, their family members and clinicians) in interviews, brainstorming sessions and in-lab feasibility testing of the resulting prototypes. The platform we developed includes two custom-made mobile desktop robots, which engage users in concurrent cognitive and motor tasks. IwPD (n = 16) reported high levels of enjoyment when using the platform (median = 5/5) and willingness to use the platform in the long term (median = 4.5/5). We report the specifics of the hardware and software design as well as the detailed input from the stakeholders.

Junior parkrun pilot in Australia: A real world evaluation.

Regular physical activity is important for children's health. Parkrun supports communities to deliver free, weekly, 5 km events in 22 countries around the world and is the largest physical activity model delivered at scale in the world. Junior parkrun aims to encourage children aged 4-14 years to be active outdoors through providing safe, cost-free and non-competitive weekly timed walk, run or jog over a 2-km distance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the junior parkrun pilot in Australia. A process evaluation was conducted using routinely collected data of junior parkrun participants, as well as a self-completed questionnaire. A total of 1827 children had registered and participated in at least one junior parkrun over the course of the pilot period. Participants had, on average, attended 10% of the junior parkrun events including and subsequent to their first participation by the end of the study period. Majority of parents (61%) said that junior parkrun had increased their child's physical activity either a little or a lot, and most agreed or strongly agreed that junior parkrun was fun (90%), enjoyable (91%), energising (85%) and challenging (70%). The junior parkrun pilot appears to show promise in Australia for enabling children to engage in physical activity, in their local communities in a fun and inclusive way. Parkrun junior can co-exist with other organised sports programs; however, it can also specifically target those not participating in any sports, given the high levels of enjoyment in a non-competitive, non-team environment.