title: Physical education in secondary schools located in low-income communities: Physical activity levels, lesson context and teacher interaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical education (PE) plays an important role in contributing to students' physical activity (PA); however, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) within PE is lower than recommended. Little is known about the PA levels of students from disadvantaged schools within PE. This study aimed to describe: (i) the PA levels of students from disadvantaged secondary schools during PE lessons, (ii) the lesson context and teacher interactions occurring during PE, and (iii) the associations between teacher, school or PE lesson characteristics with student physical activity levels in PE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 100 Grade 7 PE lessons across 10 secondary schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  System for observing fitness instruction time (SOFIT) was used to assess student PA, lesson context, and teacher interaction. Teacher and school characteristics were collected via survey. Mean proportion of lesson time was used to describe PA, lesson context and teacher interaction. Associations between each outcome variable and each characteristic were examined using 2-sample t-tests, ANOVAs and linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine percent of PE lesson was spent in MVPA, and less than 10% spent in VA. Lessons in schools in urban areas included significantly more MVPA than rural areas (P=0.04). Male teachers and more experienced teachers conducted lessons with significantly more VA than female and less experienced teachers (P=0.04 and 0.02). MVPA was also higher in lessons conducted by more experienced teachers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PA during PE lessons within disadvantaged secondary schools is below international recommendations. Male teachers, more experienced teachers and schools in urban regions teach more active lessons.
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia. Electronic address: Rachel.sutherland@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lubans
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Early Start Research Institute and School of Education, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Okely
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gillham
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lecathelinais
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiggers
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009517:New South Wales; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Lesson context; Moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA); Physical activity; Physical education; School