Effects of Installing Height-adjustable Workstations on Office Workers Workplace Sitting Time and Productivity

Sheffield Hallam University31 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study was to look at the effects that height-adjustable workstations on occupational sitting time and workplace productivity in office workers. Participants workplace activity (sitting, standing and walking) and productivity was measured before the installation of the height-adjustable workstations. Workplace activity and productivity were then measured four weeks after the installation of height-adjustable workstations. The results were compared to a control group who received no intervention whilst the intervention had the height-adjustable workstations.

Sedentary behaviour has been found to be ubiquitous within the workplace and due to the negative consequences of sedentary behaviour upon health, research has began to look at ways to reduce and interrupt sedentary behaviour. Interventions that have introduced height-adjustable workstations into the workplace have been found to reduce sedentary behaviour. Some employees and employers are concerned that using height-adjustable workstations and trying to reduce workplace sedentary behaviour can lead to a loss of workplace productivity. The present study looked at the effects of installing height-adjustable workstations on occupational sitting time and workplace productivity in desk-based workers. Workplace activity was measured objectively using ActivPal accelerometers and productivity was measured via self-report measures. Measurements took place at baseline and four weeks after receiving the height-adjustable workstation.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. age 18 to 65 years, 2. working ≥0.6 full time equivalents, 3. access to a work telephone and desktop computer with internet, 4. not pregnant, 5. no planned absence \>1 week during the trial, 6. not chair-bound or uniquely impaired such that reducing occupational sitting time was not feasible, 7. no pre-existing musculoskeletal disorder. Exclusion Criteria: \-

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Workplace Sedentary Time

The amount of time a participant spends sitting whilst in the workplace (minutes). This was measured using a thigh-worn ActivPAL accelerometer.

Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Workplace Absenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire

Self-reported absolute absenteeism (the amount of time a participant was absent from work for during the previous 7-days) measured using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire. This is calculated in relation to a participants contracted hours, therefore a negative score shows that a participant worked less than they are contracted to, where as a positive score means a participant reported working more hours than they are contracted to.

Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations

Change in Workplace Presenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire

Self-reported absolute presenteeism (an employees productivity during working hours) measured using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire. The higher the percentage, the more productive a participant felt they were. 100% means that they felt they were productive the whole time they were working. Presenteeism can be impacted upon by illness and other health conditions, if a person was feeling ill or had a back problem, this may mean that they are less productive whilst at work.

Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations