The Effect of Breaking up Sitting in the Workplace on Cardiometabolic Risk and Worker Productivity
- Conditions
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Breaking up sitting
- Registration Number
- NCT03560544
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Bedfordshire
- 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.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 46
- Full-time office employees from any ethnic background, PC/Android phone users, and recruited from two different work sites.
- 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.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Breaking up sitting time Breaking up sitting A behaviour-change intervention to break up prolonged sitting in the workplace
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method 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
Name Time Method 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.
Change in waist circumference Change from baseline waist circumference at 8 weeks Measurement waist circumference
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 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.
Height Once at baseline Measurement of height
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Change in weight Change from baseline weight at 8 weeks Measurement of weight
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.
Trial Locations
- Locations (2)
Bedford Borough Council
🇬🇧Bedford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
University of Bedfordshire
🇬🇧Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom