This project will examine the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce sedentary behavior in Kansas State University employees who are primarily working from home. We will recruit 100 employees to participate. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions: desk only, program only, desk + program, or waitlist control. The program will consist of strategies to reduce sitting and increase physical activity in the home environment. We will assess whether the intervention successfully elicits reductions in sitting among employees, as well as changes in cardiometabolic and work-related outcomes.
For this project we will conduct a 12-week intervention that incorporates multiple strategies to reduce sedentary behavior among university employees who are primarily working from home. Participants will be recruited via campus networks. Participants will attend an initial testing visit, during which anthropometric and health outcome data (blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol) will be collected. Following the testing visit, all participants will complete an activity log for the next 5 work days, and a subsample will wear an activPAL 4 device for 7 days. All participants will complete a series of questionnaires (measuring physical activity, fatigue, stress, productivity, mood, and diet) online. After all baseline data have been collected, participants will be randomized to one of four conditions: desk only, program only, desk + program, or waitlist control. Those in the desk only and desk+program conditions will receive a height-adjustable desk. They will be asked to set up the desk at their home workstation and send a photo of the setup to our research team within one week. Those in the program only and control conditions will receive their height-adjustable desks after completing the post-intervention assessments. Participants assigned to the program only and desk+program conditions will have access to a website that includes a variety of resources for reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity in the home environment. The intervention program will be based on social cognitive theory and will be designed to promote self-efficacy, self-regulation, positive outcome expectations, and social and environmental support. Participants will complete weekly modules that include activities such as goal setting and self-monitoring, action and coping planning, group discussions, etc. The program will also provide suggestions for changes to the home work environment, access to virtual stretching and strengthening videos, examples of technology to prompt breaks, etc. Participants will also receive 2 small group coaching calls via Zoom (at 3 and 8 weeks) to assist them in setting goals for reducing sedentary behavior and overcoming barriers. Participants in the desk only and waitlist control groups will receive access to the program after completing the post-intervention assessments. All measures will be repeated following the 12-week intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
100
Provision of height-adjustable desk
Online modules will promote goal setting, self-monitoring, habit formation, social support, barrier identification, and environmental modifications
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas, United States
Change in sedentary behavior during the workday
Measured via 5-day activity log
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in physical activity
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long form)
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Changes in sitting, standing and stepping
activPAL (subsample)
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in productivity
Health and Work Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in stress
Perceived Stress Scale (4-item)
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in fatigue
Fatigue Symptom Inventory
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in mood
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in diet
Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants - Shortened Version
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in blood pressure
Measured using automatic blood pressure cuff
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in fasting blood glucose
Blood sample obtained via finger stick
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in cholesterol
Total, HDL, and LDL; Blood sample obtained via finger stick
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in triglycerides
Blood sample obtained via finger stick
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in waist circumference
Measured to the nearest 0.5 cm
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in weight
Measured in kg
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
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