A cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating an incentive-based outdoor physical activity programme to increase outdoor time and prevent myopia in children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate an incentive-based intervention to increase time spent outdoors among children in a 9-month cluster randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
Two hundred and eighty-five children aged 6-12 years of age were randomised to the intervention (n = 147) or control arm (n = 138) in the Family incentive trial (FIT). The FIT intervention comprised of targeted education on myopia and good eye care habits, structured weekend outdoor activities and incentives for children to increase their daily steps via pedometers. The main outcome measure was outdoor time, measured by the WHO questionnaire and a 1-week diary.


RESULTS
Interim analysis at 6 months showed a significant increase in mean outdoor time per week in the intervention arm (14.75 h week(-1) ) compared to the control arm (12.40 h week(-1) ) as measured by the questionnaire (p = 0.04). However, greater outdoor time was not statistically significant at the end of the trial (15.95 h week(-1) vs 14.34 h in the control group (p = 0.29).


CONCLUSIONS
There was an increase in outdoor time for children in the incentive-based physical activity outdoor program after 6 months but not at the end of the trial. Further larger school trials with better compliance with the intervention and longer duration could be conducted to evaluate clinical outcomes such as myopic shifts.
Department of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Cheryl S
CS
Ngo
Chen-Wei
CW
Pan
Eric A
EA
Finkelstein
Chun-Fan
CF
Lee
Inez B
IB
Wong
Julia
J
Ong
Marcus
M
Ang
Tien-Yin
TY
Wong
Seang-Mei
SM
Saw
D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009216:Myopia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012846:Singapore; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
child health; clinical trial; myopia; public health