The Effect of Breaking up Sitting in the Workplace on Cardiometabolic Risk and Worker Productivity
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
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.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Breaking up sitting time A behaviour-change intervention to break up prolonged sitting in the workplace |
Behavioral: Breaking up sitting
A three-part behaviour change intervention, including:
Supportive organisational culture and knowledge of consequence of prolonged sitting
Environmental Modification
Behavioural Changes
|
| No Intervention: Control The participants in the control group will continue their daily activities as normal without any form of information about the intervention. |
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change in sitting time (objective) [Change from baseline sitting time at 8 weeks]
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.
- Change in physical activity level (objective) [Change from baseline physical activity level at 8 weeks]
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.
- Change in sitting time (subjective) [Change from baseline sitting time at 8 weeks]
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.
- Change in physical activity level (subjective) [Change from baseline physical activity level at 8 weeks]
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).
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Absenteeism [Change from baseline absenteeism at 8 weeks]
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.
- Presenteeism [Change from baseline presenteeism at 8 weeks]
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.
- Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) [Eight weeks]
Participants will be prompted at random four times between 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday to complete a short questionnaire which will only take them 60 seconds to complete whilst in sitting position, standing and /or in walking position to enter their level of productivity.
- Height [Once at baseline]
Measurement of height
- Change in weight [Change from baseline weight at 8 weeks]
Measurement of weight
- Change in waist circumference [Change from baseline waist circumference at 8 weeks]
Measurement waist circumference
- Blood pressure [Change from baseline blood pressure at 8 weeks]
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure on the right arm after resting for at least 10 min in a seated position using an automated blood pressure monitor (Omron HEM705 CP, Omron Healthcare UK Limited, Milton Keynes, UK).
- Change in fasting total cholesterol [Change from baseline fasting total cholesterol at 8 weeks]
Blood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of total cholesterol will be made.
- Change in fasting high-density lipoprotein [Change from baseline fasting high-density lipoprotein at 8 weeks]
Blood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of high-density lipoprotein will be made.
- Change in fasting triglycerides [Change from baseline fasting triglycerides at 8 weeks]
Blood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of triglycerides will be made.
- Change in fasting blood glucose levels [Change from baseline fasting blood glucose levels at 8 weeks]
Blood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of blood glucose levels will be made.
- Stress [Change from baseline stress at 8 weeks]
Cohen Perceived Stress questionnaire will be used to assess perception of stress. It primarily evaluates the unpredictability, uncontrollability and overload of an individual's life.
- Mood [Change from baseline mood at 8 weeks]
The positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) questionnaire is a 20-item self-report measure of both positive and negative affect.
- Mental Wellbeing [Change from baseline mental wellbeing at 8 weeks]
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental well-being Scale will be used to determine whether mental wellbeing changes. This scale has 14 questions, with each question scored from 1-5, giving a total score from 14-70.
- Self-efficacy [Change from baseline self-efficacy at 8 weeks]
A generalised four-point Likert scale questionnaire will be used to measure the self-efficacy of the participants.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
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.
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bedford Borough Council | Bedford | Bedfordshire | United Kingdom | MK42 9AP |
| 2 | University of Bedfordshire | Luton | Bedfordshire | United Kingdom | LU1 3JU |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of Bedfordshire
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- IHREC836