Multifactorial evaluation of the Global Health Program for lifestyle behaviour changes in Canadian children and adolescents: a quasi-experimental study protocol

This registration presents the protocol for a behavior change intervention project designed to generate and apply actionable evidence to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors among children and adolescents. The GHP seeks to establish sustainable health-promoting practices within school environments and to integrate them into students’ daily routines in a way that fosters long-term behavioral change. Our goal is to evaluate the efficacy of this program to create conditions that enable the next generation to adopt and maintain healthy habits related to physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and stress management, thereby improving their physical, mental, and academic well-being. Recognizing that health promotion interventions often emerge from localized contexts, our team aimed to evaluate this inclusive program that represents the diversity of students and educational settings across 9 regions in Quebec, Canada. By involving teachers, students, and administrators from multiple regions, GHP embraces this diversity as a strength, allowing the initiative to adapt and evolve based on participants’ lived experiences and contextual realities. This study presents many strengths. First, the protocol development process included a baseline study (short-term evaluation). In addition, all questions in the questionnaire have been validated for the specific population assessed. Second, this quasi-experimental longitudinal study collects data in real-life school settings where leaders are supported through a whole-school approach in which they can implement and adapt the GHP activities as planned, ensuring fidelity while allowing flexibility to meet the needs of their students. The high number of participants to be recruited is another strength. Data are collected at the beginning and at the end of each school year, a strategic positioning given that the intervention is school based. Furthermore, the collaborative work of the co-investigators, who come from different backgrounds and bring diverse expertise, allows this study to assess a broad range of outcomes. Participation bias cannot be excluded. One could think that only the most motivated participants would fill the questionnaires, which may limit generalizability. By documenting the global impact of a holistic school-based youth intervention, this study could provide evidence to guide policymakers and educators in improving the quality, scalability, and effectiveness of interventions aimed at promoting sustainable behavior change among children and adolescents.