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Table 3 Change in early childhood educators’ behavioural intention and perceived behavioural control following the e-learning course

From: Change in pre- and in-service early childhood educators’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and intentions following an e-learning course in physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a pilot study

Item

Study Population

N

Pre-Course

Post-Course

+ve Rank

(N)

-ve Rank

(N)

Z

p

M

(SD)

Median

(IQR)

M

(SD)

Median

(IQR)

Behavioural Intention (n = 7 items)

Engage children in my care in at least 120 min/day of physical activity

Pre-service

26

6.06

(.90)

6.0

(5.75–6.75)

6.55

(.57)

6.75

(6.25–7.0)

12

7

−1.757

.079

In-service

113

6.05

(.95)

6.25

(5.5–7.0)

6.42

(.69)

6.5

(6.0–7.0)

62

19

−4.782

.000*

Promote children’s development of physical literacy by incorporating fundamental movement skills

Pre-service

26

6.26

(.68)

6.25

(6.0–7.0)

6.59

(.62)

7.0

(6.25–7.0)

11

8

−1.719

.086

In-service

112

6.22

(.75)

6.25

(5.88–7.0)

6.53

(.60)

6.75

(6.0–7.0)

58

21

−4.469

.000*

Be a good role model for children’s physical activity by participating in movement-based activities

Pre-service

24

6.42

(.70)

6.75

(6.0–7.0)

6.63

(.67)

7.0

(6.38–7.0)

10

5

−.799

.424

In-service

112

6.27

(.86)

6.5

(6.0–7.0)

6.59

(.72)

7.0

(6.25–7.0)

57

11

−5.119

.000*

Promote outdoor play during all seasons and weather conditions

Pre-service

26

5.70

(1.44)

6.0

(4.5–7.0)

6.58

(.70)

7.0

(6.25–7.0)

16

2

−3.227

.001*

In-service

109

6.28

(.89)

6.5

(6.0–7.0)

6.61

(.49)

6.75

(6.25–7.0)

48

25

−4.143

.000*

Lead opportunities for outdoor risky play for children in my care

Pre-service

26

5.73

(1.50)

6.0

(5.5–7.0)

6.42

(.75)

6.75

(6.0–7.0)

14

6

−2.037

.042

In-service

111

5.74

(1.31)

6.0

(5.25–6.75)

6.16

(1.02)

6.25

(6.0–7.0)

62

19

−4.226

.000*

Minimize long periods of sedentary time (> 60 min) for children in my care

Pre-service

25

5.95

(1.10)

6.0

(5.63–7.0)

6.50

(.74)

6.75

(6.25–7.0)

11

5

−1.997

.046

In-service

111

6.14

(1.01)

6.5

(5.75–7.0)

6.53

(.61)

6.75

(6.0–7.0)

61

18

−4.399

.000*

Avoid children’s use of screen-based technology during childcare hours

Pre-service

26

5.58

(1.35)

6.0

(4.25–7.0)

6.61

(.78)

7.0

(6.5–7.0)

16

3

−2.921

.003*

In-service

112

6.35

(1.11)

7.0

(6.0–7.0)

6.73

(.61)

7.0

(6.75–7.0)

41

13

−4.263

.000*

Perceived Behavioural Control (n = 7 items)

Engage children in my care in at least 120 min/day of physical activity

Pre-service

27

5.88

(.78)

6.0

(5.31–6.69)

6.32

(.73)

6.5

(6.0–7.0)

19

4

−2.858

.004*

In-service

112

5.69

(1.22)

6.0

(4.88–6.75)

6.16

(1.14)

6.5

(5.75–7.0)

64

20

−4.947

.000*

Promote children’s development of physical literacy by incorporating fundamental movement skills

Pre-service

28

6.01

(.65)

6.0

(5.75–6.69)

6.38

(.75)

6.75

(6.0–7.0)

19

5

−2.465

.014

In-service

109

5.99

(.97)

6.0

(5.5–6.75)

6.46

(.62)

6.75

(6.0–7.0)

61

20

−5.268

.000*

Be a good role model for children’s physical activity by participating in movement-based activities

Pre-service

27

6.32

(.60)

6.25

(6.0–7.0)

6.49

(.71)

6.75

(6.0–7.0)

12

5

−1.839

.066

In-service

106

6.16

(.88)

6.5

(5.75–7.0)

6.50

(.84)

7.0

(6.0–7.0)

56

16

−4.734

.000*

Promote outdoor play during all seasons and weather conditions

Pre-service

26

5.76

(1.17)

6.0

(5.25–6.75)

6.33

(.84)

6.75

(6.0–7.0)

15

5

−2.692

.007

In-service

111

6.03

(.94)

6.25

(5.5–7.0)

6.37

(.72)

6.63

(6.0–7.0)

57

22

−3.790

.000*

Lead opportunities for outdoor risky play for children in my care

Pre-service

28

5.84

(1.12)

6.0

(5.56–6.75)

6.27

(.92)

6.88

(6.0–7.0)

16

5

−1.916

.055

In-service

107

5.42

(1.38)

5.75

(4.5–6.56)

5.88

(1.21)

6.0

(5.5–6.75)

67

20

−4.736

.000*

Minimize long periods of sedentary time (> 60 min) for children in my care

Pre-service

28

5.91

(.88)

5.88

(5.25–6.75)

6.35

(.81)

6.88

(6.0–7.0)

14

5

−2.339

.019

In-service

110

6.00

(.95)

6.25

(5.5–6.75)

6.41

(.78)

6.75

(6.0–7.0)

65

20

−4.995

.000*

Avoid children’s use of screen-based technology during childcare hours

Pre-service

28

5.92

(.87)

6.0

(5.25–6.75)

6.46

(.74)

6.88

(6.0–7.0)

17

6

−2.958

.003*

In-service

109

6.25

(1.13)

6.75

(5.75–7.0)

6.62

(.72)

7.0

(6.5–7.0)

50

18

−4.157

.000*

  1. Note. M = mean; SD = standard deviation; IQR = interquartile range; Behavioural intention and perceived behavioural control were scored on a 7-point Likert scale using 4 questions each (composite scores across these 4 questions are presented); Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Tests were between early childhood educators’ pre- and post-course behavioural intention and perceived behavioural control ratings; Where positive and negative rank N values do not equal sample N, remaining participants tied their baseline score; * = significant after adjusting for multiple comparison bias (alpha compared at .0071)