Our cluster randomized controlled trial of a novel clinical practice change will IMPACT the physical activity (PA) of children living with congenital heart defects (CHD) through our Innovative and pragmatic approach to systematically incorporate PA counselling within each clinic visit. Long-term, the focus is to prevent or treat the most common secondary morbidities of these patients (atherosclerosis, anxiety, depression) through enhanced PA. We have previously shown that home-based, PA interventions can increase daily PA and enhance PA motivation, motor skill and fitness when delivered via an intensive research intervention. Our objectives for this study are to Measure the feasibility and efficacy of PA counselling using clinical resources among paediatric CHD patients (daily PA, PA motivation, competence, quality of life) and on clinic systems (% patients counselled, clinic/kinesiology personnel support required, clinic visit time, # of PA questions). Our Patient-empowering, ready-to-use, self-explanatory "tool kit" of clinician PA resources and patient/family/clinician friendly searchable electronic PA database will be used to promote the Active lifestyles that are critically important to physical/mental health, peer socialization \& childhood growth/development. 90% of children are not active enough for optimal health. We initially target children with CHD because they are less active than peers, and their most important secondary morbidities can be prevented or treated through PA. Our Collaborative approach with patients, their families and leaders in paediatric cardiac healthcare will optimize our "PA tool kit" and novel practice change for Translation to all paediatric CHD healthcare systems (primary, secondary, tertiary) through our pan-Canadian Cardiac Kids Quality of LIFFE Research and Knowledge Exchange Network, a collaborative of 10 patient/family support networks and 10 paediatric cardiac clinics in 6 provinces focused on Learning, Independence, Friends, Fitness \& Emotional health (LIFFE).
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Change in daily physical activity
Timeframe: Baseline then first week of each month for 6 months