The Effect of Breaking up Sitting in the Workplace on Cardiometabolic Risk and Worker Productivity

University of Bedfordshire46 enrolled

Overview

This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will examine the effect of a tailored workplace intervention based on interrupting sitting on work productivity, well-being and cardio-metabolic risk in office workers. The experimental group in the 8-week intervention will be prompted to alternate between sitting and standing while working. The ratio between sitting and standing will begin at 3:1 (two hours per day in an eight-hour day) and increase to 1:1 (four hours per day in an eight-hour day) by the end of the second week of the eight-week intervention.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Sedentary Lifestyle

Interventions

Breaking up sittingBEHAVIORAL

A three-part behaviour change intervention, including: 1. Supportive organisational culture and knowledge of consequence of prolonged sitting 2. Environmental Modification 3. Behavioural Changes

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 60 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Full-time office employees from any ethnic background, PC/Android phone users, and recruited from two different work sites. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * History of musculoskeletal complaint * Non-ambulatory * Having a planned holiday that would mean they would not be at work for more than two weeks during the 8-week intervention period.

Locations (2)

Bedford Borough Council

Bedford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom

University of Bedfordshire

Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in sitting time (objective)

Evaluation of change in sitting time in the workplace using wearable accelerometers (ActivPAL3; PAL Technologies Ltd., Glasgow, UK). The ActivPAL will be worn on the right thigh.

Time frame: Change from baseline sitting time at 8 weeks

Change in physical activity level (objective)

Evaluation of physical activity time in the workplace using wearable accelerometers (ActivPAL3; PAL Technologies Ltd., Glasgow, UK). The ActivPAL will be worn on the right thigh.

Time frame: Change from baseline physical activity level at 8 weeks

Change in sitting time (subjective)

The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) will be used to provide a subjective measure of sitting. The scale provides a measure of reported sitting time in minutes.

Time frame: Change from baseline sitting time at 8 weeks

Change in physical activity level (subjective)

The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) will be used to provide a subjective measure of physical activity level. The scale provides a measure of reported sitting time in minutes for each of three types of physical activity (vigorous, moderate, and walking).

Time frame: Change from baseline physical activity level at 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Absenteeism

Participants will be asked to respond to questions on the Gaudine and Gregory questionnaire on unsanctioned absence. Self-reported absenteeism will be calculated by adding the number of days reported for all the three questions.

Time frame: Change from baseline absenteeism at 8 weeks

Presenteeism

Presenteeism will be measured using Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ). The WLQ requires employees to self-report their level of difficulty (or ability) to perform 25 specific job demands in the last 2 weeks. Answers generated for the 25 items will be grouped into four work limitation scales including Time Management; Physical Demands; Mental/Interpersonal and Output Demands. The scores for each subscale range from 0-100%, with 0 equivalent to no limitation and 100 equivalent to complete limitation.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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