This study evaluates the feasibility of an online intervention based on artificial intelligence-the Movebite app integrated into the Slack platform-aimed at promoting engagement in micro-breaks involving physical activity, with the goal of enhancing workplace well-being and reducing musculoskeletal discomfort among remote workers.
Remote and hybrid work have intensified sedentary behavior, increasing the risk of professional burnout and negatively affecting employee health. This study investigates the feasibility and accessibility of the Movebite app, an AI-based tool integrated into Slack, designed to encourage active micro-breaks. Through a one-arm, pre-test post-test design, we evaluate the feasibility and usability of the AI-based virtual coach and its relevance for well-being of employees working from home. This research contributes to the development and promotion of empirically grounded solutions in the field of occupational health psychology, testing an innovative technological approach to reduce the negative impact of sedentary work.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DEVICE_FEASIBILITY
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
16
Mobi is a conversational AI coach that serves as an occupational health coach for employees. Through coaching conversations, Mobi gets to know each employee and help them set micro-goals to work towards their overall health goal/objective. Mobi suggests small, personalized activities for the micro-breaks that align with these goals. To ensure ease of use it is integrated into Slack and MS Teams.
West University of Timisoara
Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania
Satisfaction with the intervention
Seven additional items are open-ended and will be analyzed qualitatively. These items allow participants to elaborate on what aspects of the program they found most or least valuable, describe their experience with communication tools within the intervention, and offer suggestions for improvement.
Time frame: Post-intervention (1 week).
System usability
We will use a 10 item questionnaire (Bangor et al., 2009) designed to measure participants' satisfaction with Mobi, the AI health coach. The total score of System Usability Scale is 0 and the highest one is 100. A higher score means a better outcome.
Time frame: Post-intervention (1 week)
Treatment adherence
Dropout rate and frequency of app usage.
Time frame: Post-intervention only (1 week)
Vigor
Vigor refers to a positive affective state experienced at work. It will be assessed using five items from the Physical Strength subscale of the instrument developed by Shirom (2003). A higher score means a better outcome (i.e., increased employee vigor).
Time frame: Change from baseline to post-test (1 week; 5 workdays)
Focus
Focus refers to an employee's capacity to maintain attention and mental clarity while working. It will be assessed using five items from the Cognitive Liveliness subscale of the instrument developed by Shirom (2003). A higher score indicates a better outcome (i.e., increased cognitive focus at work).
Time frame: Change from baseline to post-test (1 week; 5 workdays).
Physical (dis)comfort
Physical discomfort (musculoskeletal pain) will be measured using a single-item instrument based on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (Häfeli \& Elfering, 2006). The VAS is a widely used and validated method for assessing subjective physical symptoms such as pain intensity. Participants will indicate their level of discomfort by marking a point along a continuum, reflecting their experience over the past week. Higher scores indicate greater musculoskeletal discomfort.
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Time frame: Change from baseline to post-test (1 week; 5 workdays)
Positive and negative affect
Affect will be measured using the Positive Affect subscale from the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS; Watson, Clark, \& Tellegen, 1988). This scale assesses the extent to which individuals have experienced a range of positive emotions (e.g., enthusiastic, inspired, alert) over the past week. Participants rate each item on a 5-point scale, from "Very slightly or not at all" to "Extremely." Higher scores reflect a higher level of positive emotional experience.
Time frame: Change from baseline to post-test (1 week; 5 workdays)