Effects of Active Gamification in Primary School Children

NCT ID: NCT06849700

Last Updated: 2025-07-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 120 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-10-08
• Study Completion Date: 2025-01-03

Brief Summary

Active gamification, which incorporates game elements with physical interaction, is presented as an innovative strategy to address children's physical and mental health. This study aims to evaluate the impact of an active gamification program on these variables in primary school children. To this end, a randomized clinical trial will be conducted with 120 children between the ages of 8 and 11. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: an experimental group, which will participate in a program designed to promote physical activity through game-based dynamics for 12 weeks, and a control group, which will continue with traditional physical education classes without modifications to their usual methodology. The program implementation includes structured sessions with activities designed to encourage interaction, movement, and decision-making in a playful environment, with the aim of improving children's engagement and adherence to the intervention.

Conditions

Students; Mental Health Issue; Physical Condition

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Control Group

The control group continued with their traditional Physical Education classes.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Experimental Group

The experimental group participated in a program based on the gamification of physical exercise

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Active gamification

Intervention Type: OTHER

The experimental group participated in a physical exercise program for primary school children, with 45-minute sessions three times a week, including warm-up, main activities, and awards. Designed to enhance engagement through game mechanics, the program progressed in three phases: Explorers in Action (Weeks 1-4) focused on coordination, agility, and teamwork with games like "Conquering Territories"; Movement Heroes (Weeks 5-8) emphasized endurance, collaboration, and strategy through activities like "Quest for the Gems"; and Health Guardians (Weeks 9-12) incorporated strength, planning, and teamwork challenges, culminating in a final integrated skills circuit. The program promoted continuous improvement in physical and cooperative abilities.

Interventions

Active gamification

The experimental group participated in a physical exercise program for primary school children, with 45-minute sessions three times a week, including warm-up, main activities, and awards. Designed to enhance engagement through game mechanics, the program progressed in three phases: Explorers in Action (Weeks 1-4) focused on coordination, agility, and teamwork with games like "Conquering Territories"; Movement Heroes (Weeks 5-8) emphasized endurance, collaboration, and strategy through activities like "Quest for the Gems"; and Health Guardians (Weeks 9-12) incorporated strength, planning, and teamwork challenges, culminating in a final integrated skills circuit. The program promoted continuous improvement in physical and cooperative abilities.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age between 8 and 11 years
• No medical contraindication for physical activity
• No intellectual disability that could interfere with understanding or compliance with the study procedures; and iv) informed consent from parents or legal guardians.

Exclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of neuromotor disorder or severe physical disability that limits participation in the scheduled physical activity
• Presence of severe psychological or behavioral disorders that make integration into group activities difficult.
• Use of medication that significantly affects physical or cognitive performance.
• Failure to attend more than 20% of the intervention program sessions
• Withdrawal of informed consent by parents or legal guardians during the study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 8 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 11 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Jaén

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Agustín Aibar Almazán

Principal investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Agustín Aibar Almazán

Jaén, , Spain

Countries

Spain

Other Identifiers

*University of Jaén*

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id