Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Background: Outdoor play is a vital determinant of physical and psychosocial health in children. However, sedentary lifestyles and reduced access to structured activity opportunities have contributed to declining physical activity levels in recent years. Paediatric nurses, as frontline health promoters in school settings, are well positioned to address this issue through structured interventions.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a nurse-led outdoor play promotion program on physical activity levels and BMI percentile among school-aged children. It also sought to examine changes in adherence to WHO physical activity guidelines and to propose practical strategies for integrating health promotion into routine school activities.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post intervention study was conducted among 200 children aged 6-12 years in selected public and private schools. The eight-week intervention consisted of nurse-led outdoor play sessions and health education delivered three times per week. Physical activity minutes per day, active days per week, BMI percentile, and adherence to WHO guidelines were assessed at baseline and post-intervention using standardized tools. Statistical analysis included paired t-tests and McNemar’s test to evaluate changes in continuous and categorical variables.
Results: There was a significant increase in daily physical activity (mean change +18.0 min/day, p < 0.001) and active days per week (+1.4 days, p < 0.001), along with a modest but significant reduction in BMI percentile (-2.5, p < 0.001). The proportion of children meeting WHO recommendations for physical activity increased substantially, indicating meaningful behavioral shifts. These findings highlight the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in promoting active lifestyles in school-aged children.
Conclusion: Nurse-led outdoor play promotion programs are a practical, evidence-based strategy to increase children’s physical activity and improve health indicators. Schools should integrate structured outdoor play into daily routines, support nurses in leading such initiatives, and strengthen collaboration between educational and health sectors. Sustained implementation and policy-level support can enhance long-term health outcomes and foster active, healthy childhood development.