title: Effectiveness and spillover of an after-school health promotion program for Hispanic elementary school children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the effectiveness and spillover of an after-school health education and physical activity program among Hispanic elementary school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In fall 2008, students in third through fifth grades in 6 schools in El Paso, Texas (n = 901), were randomized to intervention (n = 292 participants) or control (n = 354) classrooms (4 unknown). Intervention classrooms also contained a spillover group (n = 251) that did not join the after-school program but that completed measurements and surveys. The intervention was a 12-week culturally tailored after-school program meeting twice a week. Four-month outcomes were body mass index, aerobic capacity, and dietary intentions and knowledge. We calculated intervention exposure as the proportion of after-school participants per classroom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intervention exposure predicted lower body mass index (P = .045), higher aerobic capacity (P = .012), and greater intentions to eat healthy (P = .046) for the classroom at follow-up. Intervention effectiveness increased with increasing proportions of intervention participants in a classroom. Nonparticipants who had classroom contact with program participants experienced health improvements that could reduce their risk of obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spillover of beneficial intervention effects to nonparticipants is a valuable public health benefit and should be part of program impact assessments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Texas, El Paso, USA. dirkdeheer@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hendrik D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: de Heer
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koehly
authors.forename: Rockie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pederson
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Morera
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas