Department of Sport Science, University of Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria.
Department of Secondary Level, University of Teacher Education, Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria.
PeerJ. 2024 Aug 13;12:e17794. doi: 10.7717/peerj.17794. eCollection 2024.
Compelling evidence suggests that schools' infrastructure and policy represent potential predictors of health and physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents. However, the translation of these findings into practice has not been examined. This study investigated the activity friendliness of Austrian schools.
Using a census sampling method, principals of Austrian schools ( = 342) were invited to participate in an online survey assessing 1) the availability of PA facilities (. playgrounds, sports courts, swimming halls) and 2) applied PA policies (. cooperation with sports clubs and involvement in PA projects).
A total of 130 principals answered the survey which corresponds to a minimal response rate of 38%. While most schools (87.4%, = 111) had a gymnastic hall, only one third (37%, = 47) had access to a swimming hall. On average, the schools had 4.2 ± 2 PA facilities with significant variation between school types (., high schools: 5 ± 2 . primary schools: 3.5 ± 2, < 0.05). The most common facilities were meadow areas (89%, = 113), sports fields (71.7%, = 91), and playgrounds (64.6%, = 82). Almost half of the schools were part of a PA project (. "active break", 45%, = 56) and offered extracurricular PA programs and courses (54%, = 67), but only one in five (22%, = 27) regularly conducted fitness tests. PA policies varied between school types ( < 0.05) but almost all principals (94%, = 117) would welcome a stronger promotion of activity friendliness at their school.
Schools are mostly activity-friendly regarding infrastructure although the limited possibilities for swimming lessons seem worrisome. PA promotion through projects, extracurricular PA offerings and fitness tests may be expanded.
大量证据表明，学校的基础设施和政策是儿童和青少年健康和体育活动（PA）的潜在预测因素。然而，这些发现尚未转化为实践。本研究调查了奥地利学校的活动友好性。
采用普查抽样方法，邀请奥地利学校的校长（= 342 人）参与在线调查，评估 1）PA 设施的可用性（操场、运动场地、游泳池）和 2）应用的 PA 政策（与体育俱乐部的合作和参与 PA 项目）。
共有 130 位校长回答了这项调查，回应率最低为 38%。虽然大多数学校（87.4%，= 111 人）都有体操馆，但只有三分之一（37%，= 47 人）可以使用游泳池。平均而言，学校有 4.2 ± 2 个 PA 设施，不同类型的学校之间存在显著差异（例如，高中：5 ± 2. 小学：3.5 ± 2 ， < 0.05）。最常见的设施是草地（89%，= 113 人）、运动场（71.7%，= 91 人）和操场（64.6%，= 82 人）。近一半的学校参与了 PA 项目（例如“积极课间休息”，45%，= 56 人）并提供课外 PA 课程和课程（54%，= 67 人），但只有五分之一（22%，= 27 人）定期进行体能测试。PA 政策因学校类型而异（< 0.05），但几乎所有校长（94%，= 117 人）都希望在他们的学校更加强化活动友好性的推广。
尽管游泳课程的可能性有限，但就基础设施而言，学校大多是活动友好型的。可以通过项目、课外 PA 课程和体能测试来进一步推广 PA。
