Effect of adapted physical activity on health-related quality of life among hospitalized children and adolescents (the ACTIV'HOP randomized controlled trial): Design and methods

IntroductionIn promoting the health of chronically ill children, the hospital should help children cope both medically and psychosocially with their disease. The University Children's Hospital of Nancy proposes adapted physical activity for hospitalized children, but the practice during hospitalization is not well developed or understood. The ACTIV'HOP study aims to assess the effects of adapted physical activity sessions for hospitalized children in terms of 1) health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and 2) satisfaction with hospital care.Research designACTIV'HOP is an individual randomized controlled trial of patients admitted to the University Children's Hospital of Nancy. The inclusion criteria are 1) age 5 to 18 years, 2) hospitalized for at least 3 days, and 3) no medical contra-indication to practice adapted physical activity.HypothesisChildren and adolescents practicing adapted physical activity during hospitalization have a better HRQoL on hospital discharge and better satisfaction with care.OutcomesHRQoL assessed by the Child Health Questionnaire on the first and last day of hospitalization, and satisfaction with care assessed by the Patients Judgment of Hospital Quality questionnaire were sent to the family home 11 to 15 days after hospital discharge. The French validated version of these questionnaires is used.