Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programming in Dubai International Schools: A Mixed Methods Study

The purpose of this study was to examine comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP) policies and practices in international schools in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Following an explanatory-sequential mixed-methods research design, the researchers employed the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program Policies and Practices Questionnaire (CSPAP-Q) and follow-up interviews to describe CSPAP implementation and explore implementation enablers and challenges. A convenience sample of physical education teachers (N=18) participated in the questionnaire, and seven of these teachers participated in individual interviews. Teachers' responses to the questionnaire indicated considerable heterogeneity and numerous gaps in existing school-based physical activity opportunities and promotion efforts. Interviews revealed three themes related to CSPAP implementation: (a) time constraints in secondary schools, (b) facilities, and (c) location. This study provides an initial glimpse into whole-of-school physical activity programming in Dubai international schools.
Introduction Participation in physical activity (PA) has many well-documented health-related, developmental, and academic benefits for children and adolescents (Poitras et al., 2016). The World Health Organization (WHO, 2010) recommends that [...]