Effect of 5-weeks participation in The Daily Mile on cognitive function, physical fitness, and body composition in children

Comparing the impact of "The Daily Mile™" vs. a modified version on Irish primary school children's engagement and enjoyment in structured physical activity

Introduction

The repetitive nature of The Daily Mile may affect long-term engagement. This study compared the impact of The Daily Mile with a modified version on engagement and enjoyment of structured physical activity.

Methods

A ∼7-year-old and ∼11-year old cohort from six primary schools participated in this study, which primarily evaluated pre- to post-assessment changes within each group. Two schools were assigned to The Daily Mile (n = 102 children; M = 8.81 years, SD = 1.97), two schools to the modified version (n = 87; M = 9.16 years, SD = 2.76), and two schools served as controls (n = 79; M = 10.05 years, SD = 1.9) for 10-weeks. Health assessments conducted included cardiorespiratory fitness (550 m Run), fundamental movement skills (Test of Gross Motor Development-2), and health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-27). Accelerometers measured school-based physical activity, while enjoyment was assessed using a modified PACES questionnaire. Post-intervention focus groups (n = 10) included teachers and children.

Results

Both the Daily Mile (∼7-year-old: p < 0.001; ∼11-year-old: p = 0.004) and its modified version (∼7-year-old: p < 0.001; ∼11-year-old: p < 0.001) had a significant impact on cardiorespiratory fitness. Participation in the modified version led to significant improvements in fundamental movement skills (∼7-year-old: p = 0.034; ∼11-year-old: p < 0.001), unlike participation in The Daily Mile (∼7-year-old: p = 1.000; ∼11-year-old: p = 0.807). A significant positive effect on health-related quality of life was attributed to participation in the modified version (p = 0.036), but not to The Daily Mile (p = 0.205). Enjoyment scores were significantly higher for the modified version (4.61 vs. 4.43; p = 0.024).

Discussion

Participation in The Daily Mile is associated with improved health outcomes. Nevertheless, modifying the initiative to include greater variety has the potential to offer broader health benefits, longer engagement, and increased enjoyment. Future research should explore the long-term implementation of this modified version in schools.

Current status and future directions in pediatric ventricular assist device

A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a form of mechanical circulatory support that uses a mechanical pump to partially or fully take over the function of a failed heart. In recent decades, the VAD has become a crucial option in the treatment of end-stage heart failure in adult patients. However, due to the lack of suitable devices and more complicated patient profiles, this therapeutic approach is still not widely used for pediatric populations. This article reviews the clinically available devices, adverse events, and future directions of design and implementation in pediatric VADs.

Evaluating the Perceived Health-Related Effectiveness of 'The Daily Mile' Initiative in Irish Primary Schools

Many Irish primary school children do not meet recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines. The Daily Mile (TDM) is a primary school initiative designed to increase children's PA output. This study evaluates TDM's perceived effect on Irish primary school children's health-related metrics. A mixed-methods study, comprising two data collection phases, used the RE-AIM framework to evaluate TDM. Phase One involved teachers, principals and classroom assistants (n = 191) from TDM-registered schools completing a questionnaire. Two TDM-registered schools participated in Phase Two, where (i) interviews were conducted with each principal, (ii) a teacher sub-sample (n = 4) participated in a focus group, and (iii) a child sub-sample (n = 14) participated in separate focus groups. TDM was perceived to positively impact the markers of children's health, including their PA behaviour, physical fitness and social well-being. Inclement weather (66.5%) and a lack of time (56.5%) were reported as the top-ranked implementation barriers. Moreover, TDM's repetitive nature often left children feeling disinterested and resulted in some teachers modifying the initiative to maintain engagement levels. Maintaining the long-term implementation of TDM and its health benefits in primary schools may require bespoke amendments to the original format to preserve children's engagement.