An Intervention to Reduce Prolonged Sitting in Police Staff

University of Bedfordshire24 enrolled

Overview

The primary aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of an intervention to reduce and break up prolonged sitting time in full-time police staff. The secondary aims of this study are to assess preliminary effects on patterns of sedentary behaviour (number of breaks, number of prolonged sitting bouts, average duration of prolonged sitting bouts, and total prolonged sitting duration), additional measures of sedentary behaviour (total sitting time, standing, and stepping), cardiometabolic risk markers, physiological stress (cortisol levels), physical health (self-report and postural stability), psychological wellbeing and mood, work stress (self-reported), and work performance (job satisfaction and productivity).

Prolonged sedentary behaviour is associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. A large proportion of daily sedentary time (sitting) occurs in the workplace. On average, full time office workers spend upwards of 70% of their working day seated with the majority of this time accumulated in sitting bouts ≥ 20 minutes. A recent cross-sectional investigation into the occupational characteristics of over 5,000 British police force employees reported at least 30% identifying as having mainly office-based duties. When trying to reduce prolonged sitting in the workplace, one of the most effective strategies is the use of multi-component interventions. At the present time, sedentary workplace intervention studies in the police are limited. The primary aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of an intervention to reduce and break up prolonged sitting time at work in full-time police staff. The secondary aims of this study are to assess preliminary effects on sedentary behaviour, cardiometabolic risk markers, physiological stress, physical health, psychological wellbeing and mood, work stress, and work performance. This has a single-arm, pre-post study design. Participants will receive a multi-component intervention to break up and reduce prolonged sitting including: a presentation/workshop, electronic support, minor environmental modifications, organisational support, and team competition. Assessments will take place at baseline and post-intervention (week 10).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * ≥ 0.6 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) work hours * Ambulatory * Predominantly desk-based (spend on average ≥ 5-h/day seated at work by self-report) * Own a smartphone, with ability to keep phone with them during work hours Exclusion Criteria: * Planned absence of two weeks or more during the intervention period * Work part time (\< 0.6 FTE) * Health contraindications to standing and walking * Planned relocation to another site, office or workplace * Have personal access to an active workstation (sit-stand desk, seat cycle, treadmill desk or similar) * Participating simultaneously in another workplace intervention (for sedentary behaviour, physical activity, diet, lifestyle, or combination thereof) * Health contraindications to postural stability testing (e.g., injury to the lower extremities in the past six months, dizziness, or epilepsy)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Feasibility - Adherence: Drop-out rates in control and intervention group

Analyses of drop-out rates (%) in control and intervention group.

Time frame: From recruitment (typically 4 weeks prior to baseline) up to study completion (typically 12 weeks)

Feasibility - Acceptability: Perceptions of the intervention

Asking participants' to qualitatively reflect on the intervention via semi-structured interview.

Time frame: At week 11

Secondary Outcomes

Change in the number of breaks (sit-stand transitions) from sedentary time per hour (workplace and daily)

Participants will wear a thigh-based accelerometer/inclinometer (ActivPAL3), which provides a well established measure of sit-stand transitions.

Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. At each time point the accelerometer will be worn for 7 days.

Change in sitting time accrued in prolonged bouts (≥ 30 minutes) (workplace and daily)

Participants will wear a thigh-based accelerometer/inclinometer (ActivPAL3), which provides a well established measure of sitting time accrued in prolonged bouts (≥ 30 minutes).

Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. At each time point the accelerometer will be worn for 7 days.

Change in the average duration (minutes) of prolonged sitting bouts (≥ 30 minutes) (workplace and daily)

Participants will wear a thigh-based accelerometer/inclinometer (ActivPAL3), which provides a well established measure of the average duration (minutes) of prolonged sitting bouts (≥ 30 minutes).

Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. At each time point the accelerometer will be worn for 7 days.

Change in the number of prolonged sitting bouts (≥ 30 minutes) (workplace and daily)

Participants will wear a thigh-based accelerometer/inclinometer (ActivPAL3), which provides a well established measure of the number of prolonged sitting bouts (≥ 30 minutes).

Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. At each time point the accelerometer will be worn for 7 days.

Change in the total duration (minutes) of sitting time (workplace and daily)

Participants will wear a thigh-based accelerometer/inclinometer (ActivPAL3), which provides a well established measure of sitting time.

Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. At each time point the accelerometer will be worn for 7 days.

Change in step count (workplace and daily)

Participants will wear a thigh-based accelerometer/inclinometer (ActivPAL3), which provides a well established measure of step count.

Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. At each time point the accelerometer will be worn for 7 days.

Change in total stepping time (in minutes) (workplace and daily)

Participants will wear a thigh-based accelerometer/inclinometer (ActivPAL3), which provides a well established measure of total stepping time (in minutes).

Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. At each time point the accelerometer will be worn for 7 days.

Change in total standing time (in minutes) (workplace and daily)

Participants will wear a thigh-based accelerometer/inclinometer (ActivPAL3), which provides a well established measure of total standing time (in minutes).

Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. At each time point the accelerometer will be worn for 7 days.

Weight (kg)

Changes in weight via Tanita scale.