Effects of high-intensity interval training on different health outcomes among high school students in southern Brazil: Protocol for a clusterrandomized trial

Oleiro, Vithória; Alexandrino, Eduardo Gauze; Rodrigues, Yuri da Gama; Almeida, Bruno Pedrini de; Freitas, Matheus Pintanel Silva de; Volz, Pâmela Moraes; Castro, Yasmin Marques; Zabisky, Camila; Corrêa, Leandro Quadro; Rodrigues, Rodrigo; Silva, Michael Pereira da; Costa, Eduardo Caldas; Vecchio, Fabrício Boscolo Del; Dumith, Samuel de Carvalho

doi:10.12820/rbafs.30e0393

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Study protocols in physical activity and health • Rev. Bras. Ativ. Fis. Saúde 30 • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.30e0393i linkcopy

Effects of high-intensity interval training on different health outcomes among high school students in southern Brazil: Protocol for a clusterrandomized trial

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Introduction: Although the benefits of regular physical activity on mental health parameters and cognitive performance are evident, there is a high prevalence of physical inactivity among adolescents. Therefore, it is important to identify exercise strategies that encourage greater participation within this population.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on the mental health and cognitive performance of school-aged adolescents.

Methods: This is a single-center, two-arm (intervention and control) cluster randomized trial protocol. Adolescents aged 15 to 18 years were exposed to the intervention for 6 weeks. The primary outcomes are mental health symptoms, measured by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale for adolescents, cognitive profile, inhibitory control, and executive function, measured by the General Cognitive Assessment Battery - Cognifit, Stroop Color Test and Trail Making Test, respectively. Secondary outcomes include weight and Body Mass Index, waist circumference and cardiorespiratory fitness. The results will be analyzed according to the protocol and on an intention-to-treat basis. The effects of the intervention will be analyzed with Generalized Estimating Equations, using linear and Poisson models, incorporating time variables, group, an interaction term and adjustment covariates. A significance level of 5% will be adopted for all two-tailed tests.

Final considerations: This study is expected to produce results that can recommend HIIT as an effective training strategy for mental health and cognitive performance of adolescents.

Keywords:
Physical activity; Mental health; Cognitive performance; Adolescents; Randomized trial.

Variables	Instruments	Operationalization
Primary outcomes
Mental health	Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale for Adolescents (DASS-A)	Likert scale from 0 to 3 points. Composed of 21 items subdivided into seven items for anxiety, depression and stress. Cut-off points: Depression: normal (0 to 9 points); mild (10 to 13); moderate (14 to 20); severe (21 to 27); extremely severe (> 28 points); Anxiety: normal (0 to 7); mild (8 to 9); moderate (10 to 14); severe (15 to 19); extremely severe (> 20 points), Stress: normal (0 to 14); mild (15 to 18); moderate (19 to 25); severe (26 to 33); extremely severe (>34 points) Application time: 10 minutes
Cognitive profile	General Cognitive Assessment Battery - Cognifit®	A battery of computerized tests comprising 17 tasks that assess 22 cognitive abilities related to executive function, attention, memory, coordination and mental flexibility (reasoning). The final data set provides a cognitive profile of the participant generated by associating the scores, as well as data on the percentage of correct answers, classification, scores, execution time and reaction time Application time: 30 minutes. Further information on the battery of cognitive tests can be found in the supplementary table.
Inhibitory control	Stroop Color Test	It consists of three cards, each with 24 items organized into six lines of four words. The evaluation takes into account the speed of execution and the number of errors. Application time: 5 minutes.
Executive function	Trail Test (Part A and Part B)	The test consists of connecting numbers or letters in order and is scored according to the time it takes to complete. Application time: 5 minutes.
Secondary outcomes
Height	Stadiometer	-
Weight and body mass index	Omron HBF-514C Scale	1 = Underweight; 2= Eutrophic; 3 = Overweight; 4 Obesity
Waist circumference	Tape measure	Scale 1 and 2. 1 = Adequate; 2 = Inadequate
Cardiorespiratory Fitness	Léger 20-meter “Come and Go” test	Number of laps and calculation ofVO2 max (mL/kg.min).The last complete stage the student completed will indicate the maximum speed reached

Variables	Instrument	Operationalization
Sociodemographic profile	Age, gender, skin color or race, neighborhood, class, work, living with family, house they live in and how many people	-
Index of goods	PeNSE Questionnaire	Scale from 1 to 3.1= Lower tertile; 2= Middle tertile; 3= Upper tertile.
Menarche (self-reported)	Age in years (female adolescents)	-
Cigarette consumption (self-reported)	Adapted PeNSE Questionnaire	Scale 1 and 2. 1 = Yes; 2 = No
Use of illicit drugs (self-reported)	Adapted PeNSE Questionnaire	Scale 1 and 2. 1 = Yes; 2 = No
Level of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle	Adapted PeNSE Questionnaire	Scale 1 to 3. 1= Inactive; 2 = Insufficiently active; 3= Active

Weeks	Week 1 to 3	Week 4	Week 5 to 6
Maximal aerobic speed intensity	Intensity 110%	Intensity 115%	Intensity 120%
Pause	Passive pause Session 1, 2 and 3	-	Passive pause Session 10
Pause	Active pause Session 4, 5 and 6	Active pause Session 7 and 8	Active pause Session 9, 11 and 12

Pre-intervention assessment
SESSION	Maximal aerobic speed	Pause type	Effort: Pause	Stimulus
Session 1	110%	Passive pause	15:15 Training 1	20x
Session 2	110%	Passive pause	15:15 Training 2	20x
Session 3	110%	Passive pause	30:30 Training 3	10x
Session 4	110%	Active pause	15:15 Training 4	20x
Session 5	110%	Active pause	30:20 Training 5	12x
Session 6	110%	Active pause	30:20 Training 6	12x
Session 7	115%	Active pause	15:15 Training 7	20x
Session 8	115%	Active pause	30:20 Training 8	12x
Session 9	120%	Active pause	15:15 Training 9	20x
Session 10	120%	Passive pause	30:20 Training 10	12x
Session 11	120%	Active pause	30:20 Training 11	12x
Session 12	120%	Active pause	30:20 Training 12	12x
Post-intervention evaluations

Cognitive ability assessed	Cognitive test
Divided attention	DIAT-SHIF Simultaneity Test.
Focus	REST-HECOOR Speed Test
Inhibition	REST-INH Processing Test INH-REST Equivalence Test UPDA-SHIF Synchronization Test INH-REST Equivalence Test
Update	COM-NAM Identification Test REST-INH Processing Test CO OR accuracy test HECOOR Coordination Test
Phonological short-term memory	WOM-ASM Sequential Test
Contextual memory	COM-NAM Identification Test REST-COM Research Test
Short-term memory	WOM-ASM Sequential Test VISMEM-PLAN Concentration Test

Capacidade cognitiva avaliada	leste cognitivo
Atenção dividida	Teste de Simultaneidade DIAT-SHIF.
Foco	Teste de Celeridade REST-HECOOR
Inibição	Teste de Processamento REST-INH Teste de Equivalências INH-REST Teste de Sincronização UPDA-SHIF Teste de Equivalências INH-REST
Atualização	Teste de Identificação COM-NAM Teste de Processamento REST-INH
	Teste de precisão COOR
	Teste de Coordenação HECOOR
Memória fonológica curto prazo	Teste Sequencial WOM-ASM
Memória contextuai	Teste de Identificação COM-NAM Teste de Investigação REST-COM
Memória a curto prazo	Teste Sequencial WOM-ASM
Memória a curto prazo	Teste de Concentração VISMEM-PLAN

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E-mail: rbafs@sbafs.org.br

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