A Primary School -based Educational Program to Improve Fall….pdfVIP

International Journal of Sports Science 2014, 4(4): 136-141 DOI: 10.5923/j.sports03 A Primary School-based Educational Program to Improve Fall Skills; Process Evaluation Alongside a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial 1 2 2 1 1,* Joske Nauta , Lize Adriaensens , Karin Klein Wolt , Willem Van Mechelen , Evert Verhagen 1Department of Public Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, 1081 BT, The Netherlands 2Consumer Safety Institute, Amsterdam, 1059 GK, The Netherlands Abstract In this study, the process evaluation of an educational program to improve fall skills in primary school age children was conducted alongside a cluster randomized controlled trial using the RE-AIM framework. Thirty-three schools participated in a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Seventeen schools were randomly allocated to the intervention group. Injuries were registered during a school year. Fall skills were assessed using self-reports and a fall skills test. And questionnaires were used to evaluate experiences of both children and teachers with the educational program. All children participating in physical education lessons were reached. The program was effective in increasing self-perceived fall–skills and the score on a fall-skills test (0.94 points), but the change in fall-related injury rates did not reach significance. Fourteen percent of invited schools was willing to Adopt the educational program. And although participating teachers were positive about the educational program, 89%