Workplace Intervention to Reduce Sitting Time: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Universidad del Desarrollo106 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to determine the effect of the computer prompt to break sitting time in office workers. The main question is: What is the effect of the computer prompt "Stand Up for Your Health®" plus education on sitting time, musculoskeletal symptoms, cardiometabolic markers, and physical activity in office workers compared with only education? In addition, to determine the level of adherence to the intervention program by identifying barriers and facilitators referred by the participants. The participants will be divided into two groups, the experimental and the control group. The participants in the experimental group will use the computer prompt on their desktop and receive information about sedentary behaviour, and the control group will receive only information. All participants will wear accelerometers for one week. The musculoskeletal symptoms and cardiometabolic markers will be measured at baseline, 3rd and 6th month.

Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity are risk factors for noncommunicable diseases related to the work environment. The accumulation of sitting time during the workday is related to musculoskeletal symptoms and worse cardiometabolic indicators. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the "Stand up for your Health®" computer app on sitting time, musculoskeletal symptoms, cardiometabolic markers, and physical activity in office workers. Also, to determine the adherence to the intervention program by identifying barriers and facilitators referred by the participants. In this 2-arm randomized controlled trial, both groups will be recruited from educational establishments and will be measured at baseline, 3rd, and 6th months. The experimental group will be implementing the "Stand Up for Your Health®" computer app plus educational information, while the control group will only receive educational information. The same measurements will be completed in both groups during a 6 months follow-up period: sedentary behaviour using the Actigraph accelerometers and the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ); musculoskeletal symptoms will be assessed by a pressure pain algometer and the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire of Perception of musculoskeletal Symptoms; and cardiometabolic markers and anthropometric measurements will also be assessed according to protocol.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Interventions

Computer prompt "Stand up for your Health®"BEHAVIORAL

The intervention group consists on the implementation of a desktop application "Stand up for your Health®" computer prompt following the model proposed by the Guide to Physical Activity at Work (34). This app works by showing reminders and asking users to pause their work activity and take an active break. Pauses can be customized and programmed according to the user's preference, allowing control of the time of each pause, between pauses, and the possibility of delaying or interrupting the pause. In this study, the "Stand up for your Health®" app will be scheduled to appear every 60 minutes on the workers' computers and each break will last for 2 minutes. During this resting period, the worker will see a notice or reminder on their screen with a countdown clock. The application allows you to postpone or interrupt directions.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * office workers over 18 years of age, * Full-time employees (≥35 hours per week); * Spend most of their workday sitting (\> 60%). This will be initially self-reported and used as selection criteria prior to the initial consent and measurement visit. This will be later confirmed using accelerometers; * Work in the same office place during the week; and * Able to walk without using an assistive device or requiring the assistance of another person. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women; * Desktop workers using a height-adjustable workstation; and * Office workers sufficiently active according to WHO criteria.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Sedentary behaviour (occupational sitting time) at baseline

Sedentary behaviour will be objectively assessed using accelerometers Actigraph GT3X per a period of one week. Data will be downloaded and analyzed with ActiLife software. Occupational sitting time shall be measured subjectively using the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ).

Time frame: During 1 week at T0 (baseline)

Sedentary behaviour (occupational sitting time) at 3rd month

Time frame: During 1 week at T1 (3rd month)

Sedentary behaviour (occupational sitting time) at 6th month

Time frame: During 1 week at T2 (6th month)

Secondary Outcomes

Cardiometabolic biomarkers - Fasting blood glucose

Cardiometabolic health outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Measurements of fasting blood glucose in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) will be collected in blood samples on an empty stomach in the workplace by a trained and certified health professional.