"11 for Health" in the Faroe Islands: Popularity in schoolchildren aged 10-12 and the effect on well-being and health knowledge

Background: We aimed to investigate the popularity of the “11 for Health pro-gram for Europe” for 10– 12- year- old Faroese children and the effects on well- being and health knowledge.Methods: We applied a cluster- randomized controlled trial, including a total of 19 school clusters, randomized into intervention schools (IG, n= 12) and control schools (CG, n= 7). A total of 261 children (137 boys and 124 girls) participated. IG completed the 11- week program, consisting of 2 × 45 min weekly sessions with football drills, small- sided games, and health education. CG continued their regu-lar education. Pre- and post- intervention, the participants completed a shortened version of the multidimensional well- being questionnaire KIDSCREEN- 27 and a 34- item multiple- choice health knowledge questionnaire.Results: Between- group differences (p< 0.05) were observed in change scores for physical well- being and overall peers and social support in favor of IG com-pared with CG, as well as for physical well- being in IG girls compared with CG girls. Between- group differences in change score for overall health knowledge (11.8%, p< 0.001, ES: 0.82) were observed in favor of IG, as well as for playing football (8.9%, p= 0.039, ES: 0.24), be active (8.1%, p= 0.017, ES: 0.32), control your weight (18.5%, p< 0.001, ES: 0.52), wash your hands (19.5%, p< 0.001, ES: 0.59), eat a balanced diet (19.3%, p< 0.001, ES: 0.64), get fit (12.1%, p= 0.007, ES: 0.34), and think positive (5.5%, p= 0.039, ES: 0.22). The program was reported as enjoyable with equal moderate- to- high scores for girls (3.68 ± 1.23; ±SD) and boys (3.84 ± 1.17) on a 1– 5 Likert Scale.
Conclusion: The “11 for Health program for Europe” improved physical well- being, peers, and social support and broad- spectrum health knowledge in 10– 12- year- old Faroese schoolchildren and was rated popular.