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Health and Wellbeing of Primary School-aged ChildrenHCCFNCT04193410

Healthy Childcare Centre of the Future

An observational study of Health and Wellbeing of Primary School-aged Children, run by Maastricht University Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Rationale: In 2015-2020, the Dutch 'Healthy Primary School of the Future' intervention took place. Two schools became 'Healthy Primary Schools of the Future'; providing a healthy lunch and structured physical activity (PA) sessions. Two other 'Physical Activity Schools' only implemented the PA sessions. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Various health-promoting initiatives
How many people
315 participants
Where
1 siteNetherlands
Study dates
15 Jun 2020to 28 Jun 2023
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Study population: A closed design will be used, meaning that at baseline (T0), all children in study year four to six of the childcare centres will be invited to participate in the study. At T1, these children will be students in study year five to seven, and at T2 they will be in study year six to eight. Based on the amount of children enrolled in school year 2019/2020, approximately 685 children are eligible to participate in the study.

Who may be able to join

  • Student from study years four to six (at baseline) at one of the the predetermined childcare centres

Who cannot join

  • None

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Netherlands1 site
  • Stichting Prisma

    Panningen, 5981 CG

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Rationale: In 2015-2020, the Dutch 'Healthy Primary School of the Future' intervention took place. Two schools became 'Healthy Primary Schools of the Future'; providing a healthy lunch and structured physical activity (PA) sessions. Two other 'Physical Activity Schools' only implemented the PA sessions. The intervention showed promising effects on children's BMI z-score and dietary and PA behaviours. Following these promising results, childcare centres of educational board Prisma have expressed their interest in implementing changes fitting the 'Healthy Primary School of the Future'. However, this is more complex than it seems to be, as budget to implement changes is lower and all childcare centres have a unique context. Therefore, there is a need to investigate how 'Healthy Primary School of the Future' can successfully be implemented in various, real-life school-settings. It is hypothesised that to maximise implementation and sustainability, each childcare centre will need to put together a set of changes and interventions which fit the context and needs of all stakeholders involved. No intervention is allocated in this study other than activities planned by childcare centres in accordance with wishes and needs of stakeholders.

Objective: To study the implementation of 'Healthy Childcare Centre of the Future' in different school-contexts and develop guidelines that can be used to facilitate widespread dissemination of the initiative. Secondary objectives include evaluating the initiative's effects on children's BMI z-score, general health, dietary and PA behaviours and school well-being. To reach these objectives, a process evaluation, effect evaluation and cost-effectiveness evaluation will be executed. Data will be collected using questionnaires (parents, children, teachers, directors), anthropometric measures (children), interviews (teachers, directors), observations and analyses of minutes of meetings.

Read the detailed description

Rationale: From 2015-2020, the 'Healthy Primary School of the Future' intervention took place in Limburg, the Netherlands. The school environment of four primary schools changed. Two schools became 'Healthy Primary Schools of the Future'; providing their students with a healthy lunch and structured physical activity (PA) sessions during lunch time breaks. Two other 'Physical Activity Schools' only implemented the structured PA sessions. Interim analyses showed promising effects of the intervention; at two-year-follow-up, the study showed a significant decrease in BMI z-score of children in the 'Healthy Primary Schools of the Future' as compared with children in control schools. Also, positive intervention effects on dietary and PA behaviours were observed. Following these promising results, childcare centres of educational board Prisma have expressed their interest in implementing changes fitting the 'Healthy Primary School of the Future' initiative. However, this is more complex than it seems to be, as budget to implement changes is lower than in the original trial, and all childcare centres have a unique context. Therefore, there is a need to investigate how 'Healthy Primary School of the Future' can successfully be implemented in various, real-life school-settings. It is hypothesised that to maximise implementation and sustainability, each childcare centre will need to put together a set of changes and interventions which fit the context and needs of all stakeholders involved (e.g., the school board, teachers, parents and children).

Objective: The main objective is to study the implementation process of 'Healthy Childcare Centre of the Future' in different school-contexts and develop guidelines that can be used to facilitate widespread dissemination of the initiative. Secondary objectives include evaluating the effects of the 'Healthy Childcare Centre of the Future' on children's BMI z-score, general health, dietary and PA behaviours and school well-being. To reach these objectives, a process evaluation, effect evaluation and cost-effectiveness evaluation will be executed.

Study design: A non-randomised, non-controlled, observational study design. Study population: Children in study years four to six (at baseline) of twelve childcare centres located in Limburg, the Netherlands.

Main parameters/endpoints: The main study parameter of the effect evaluation is the change in absolute BMI z-score, which will be compared between the childcare centres categorised based on their degree of implementation (using categories based on the Diffusion of Innovations Theory).

Methods: Data will be collected in the form of questionnaires (parents, children, teachers/pedagogical employees, directors), anthropometric measurements (children), interviews (teachers/pedagogical employees, directors), observations and analyses of minutes of meetings.

Nature and extend of the burden and risks associated with participation: No intervention is allocated in this study other than activities planned by childcare centres in accordance with wishes and needs of childcare centre staff and parents. All outcome measures are non-invasive. The measurement protocol was designed while taking into account both a minimal burden for participants and a relevant scientific output for stakeholders (e.g., school board, teachers, parents/caregivers and children). Burden of participants is minimalised by incorporating most measurements in the regular school day.

Being tested
Various health-promoting initiatives
Keywords
Nutrition, Physical activity, School, Children, Prevention, School Health
Medical subject headings
Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Various health-promoting initiativesBehavioural

    No intervention is allocated in this study other than activities planned by childcare centres in accordance with wishes and needs of childcare centre staff and parents.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. BMI Z-score

    Children's Body Mass Index (BMI) was assessed by height and weight; age- and sex-specific BMI cut-off points were used to define overweight and obesity. BMI z-scores were calculated using Dutch reference values. A z-score of 0 represents the population mean. A z-score > 0 means a BMI higher than the population mean, a z-score of < 0 means a BMI lower than the population mean, both can pose specific health-related risks.

    Measured: Two years

Secondary outcomes (12)
  1. Mean Number of Days Per Week of Healthy Dietary Behaviours

    A composite score for healthy dietary behaviours was computed from four separate questions. This score was calculated by averaging the weekly consumption (ranging from never (0) to every day (7)) of breakfast consumption and intake of fruit, warm and raw vegetables, and water throughout the day, as reported in the parental questionnaire.

    Measured: Two years

  2. Child Physical Activity Behaviour (Child-reported)

    Assessed using the validated Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C).The PAQ-C is a self-administered,7-day recall instrument, which provides a summary physical activity score derived from eight items, each scored on a 5-point scale. Item 1 (spare time activity) from no activity = 1; 7 times or more = 5. Items 2 to 7 (PE, lunch, right after school, evening, weekends) from lowest activity response = 1 or highest activity response = 5. Item 8 (mean of all days of the week) from none = 1; very often = 5. Item 9 (identifies students who are unusual active during the previous week). By adding up all means of the first eight items in PAQ-C, a summative score of physical activity is obtained. A score of 1 indicates low physical activity level, whereas a score of 5 indicates high physical activity level.

    Measured: Two years

  3. Child Waist Circumference

    Waist circumference is measured with a measuring tape to the nearest 0.1 cm, following the World Health Organisation's assessment protocol.

    Measured: Two years

  4. Mean Number of Days Per Week of Soft Drink Consumption

    Soft drink consumption during the past week was derived from the parental questionnaire ranging from never (0) to every day (7).

    Measured: Two years

  5. Water Consumption During School Hours

    Water consumption during school hours was derived from the child questionnaire ranging from never (0) to every day (3).

    Measured: Two years

  6. Fruit Consumption at Lunch

    The child lunch questionnaire assessed children's consumption of certain food types during lunch. The items were summarised into six dichotomous (yes/no) food types: fruits, vegetables, grains (bread and cereals), dairy (milk/yoghurt and cheese), water, and butter.

    Measured: Two years

  7. Vegetable Consumption at Lunch

    The child lunch questionnaire assessed children's consumption of certain food types during lunch. The items were summarised into six dichotomous (yes/no) food types: fruits, vegetables, grains (bread and cereals), dairy (milk/yoghurt and cheese), water, and butter.

    Measured: Two years

  8. Grain Consumption at Lunch

    The child lunch questionnaire assessed children's consumption of certain food types during lunch. The items were summarised into six dichotomous (yes/no) food types: fruits, vegetables, grains (bread and cereals), dairy (milk/yoghurt and cheese), water, and butter.

    Measured: Two years

  9. Dairy Consumption at Lunch

    The child lunch questionnaire assessed children's consumption of certain food types during lunch. The items were summarised into six dichotomous (yes/no) food types: fruits, vegetables, grains (bread and cereals), dairy (milk/yoghurt and cheese), water, and butter.

    Measured: Two years

  10. Water Consumption at Lunch

    The child lunch questionnaire assessed children's consumption of certain food types during lunch. The items were summarised into six dichotomous (yes/no) food types: fruits, vegetables, grains (bread and cereals), dairy (milk/yoghurt and cheese), water, and butter.

    Measured: Two years

  11. Butter Consumption at Lunch

    The child lunch questionnaire assessed children's consumption of certain food types during lunch. The items were summarised into six dichotomous (yes/no) food types: fruits, vegetables, grains (bread and cereals), dairy (milk/yoghurt and cheese), water, and butter.

    Measured: Two years

  12. Consumption of at Least Two Healthy Food Groups During Lunch

    The child lunch questionnaire assessed children's consumption of certain food types during lunch. The items were summarised into six dichotomous (yes/no) food types: fruits, vegetables, grains (bread and cereals), dairy (milk/yoghurt and cheese), water, and butter. To shed more light on the nutritional value of the children's lunches, the different food types consumed were summed, and a dichotomous variable was created indicating whether children consumed at least two of the food types during lunch.

    Measured: Two years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted10 Dec 2019
  2. Study start15 Jun 2020
  3. Primary completion28 Jun 2023
  4. Study completion28 Jun 2023

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
315 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04193410
Sponsor's protocol ID
METCZ20190144
Acronym
HCCF
Status last verified
Jun 2023
First submitted
3 Dec 2019
Last updated
16 Dec 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: It is not our intention to share individual participant data with other researchers

Publications

  • Bartelink NHM, Van Assema P, Jansen MWJ, Savelberg HHCM, Willeboordse M, Kremers SPJ. The Healthy Primary School of the Future: A Contextual Action-Oriented Research Approach. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Oct 12;15(10):2243. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15102243.

    PubMed 30720796
  • Willeboordse M, Jansen MW, van den Heijkant SN, Simons A, Winkens B, de Groot RH, Bartelink N, Kremers SP, van Assema P, Savelberg HH, de Neubourg E, Borghans L, Schils T, Coppens KM, Dietvorst R, Ten Hoopen R, Coomans F, Klosse S, Conjaerts MH, Oosterhoff M, Joore MA, Ferreira I, Muris P, Bosma H, Toppenberg HL, van Schayck CP. The Healthy Primary School of the Future: study protocol of a quasi-experimental study. BMC Public Health. 2016 Jul 26;16:639. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3301-9.

    PubMed 27456845
  • Bartelink NHM, van Assema P, Kremers SPJ, Savelberg HHCM, Oosterhoff M, Willeboordse M, van Schayck OCP, Winkens B, Jansen MWJ. Can the Healthy Primary School of the Future offer perspective in the ongoing obesity epidemic in young children? A Dutch quasi-experimental study. BMJ Open. 2019 Oct 31;9(10):e030676. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030676.

    PubMed 31676651
  • Bartelink NHM, van Assema P, Kremers SPJ, Savelberg HHCM, Oosterhoff M, Willeboordse M, van Schayck OCP, Winkens B, Jansen MWJ. One- and Two-Year Effects of the Healthy Primary School of the Future on Children's Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviours: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 22;11(3):689. doi: 10.3390/nu11030689.

    PubMed 30909515

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Health and Wellbeing of Primary School-aged Children, run by Maastricht University Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Netherlands. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 16 Dec 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

BMI Z-score (time frame: Two years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04193410, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Dec 2025.

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