Take a Stand! - an Intervention to Reduce Occupational Sitting Time

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Sedentary Lifestyle
• Interventions: Behavioral: Control group; Behavioral: Intervention group

• Registration Number: NCT01996176
• Lead Sponsor: University of Southern Denmark

Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to test an intervention aiming to reduce sitting time during work hours among office workers.

Expectations according to outcome measures: Sitting time reduced by 1 hour pr. day (primary). Number of prolonged periods reduced by 1 pr. day (primary). Number of breaks increased by 3 pr. day (primary). 20 % of participants report a reduction of musculoskeletal pain (secondary). A reduction in waist circumference of 1 cm (secondary). A reduction of 0.5 % in bodyfat (secondary).

Detailed Description

Background and aim: Sedentary behaviour has substantial impact on wellbeing and health, e.g. on the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death. These associations seem to apply as well to people who carry out the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity per day. However, studies indicate that the harmful effects can be reduced through breaking prolonged periods of sitting by intervals of standing or walking.

In total 46 % of Danes are working in occupations which are primarily sedentary and the workplace is thus a relevant setting to intervene against sedentary behaviour.

The aim of the study is to test an intervention towards sitting time among office workers. The intervention will target both total sitting time, breaks from sitting and prolonged periods of sitting.

Design: Cluster-randomized control study led at four different workplaces in Denmark and Greenland. Each workplace should consist of four independent sections (clusters) of about 25 people. Those four sections are randomized to intervention or control. A cluster design is used because the intervention will target the workplace setting as a whole, thus individuals within the same office has to be randomized to the same arm of the intervention.

Participants: 400 adults with sedentary office-based work. Subjects should understand Danish and be without disabilities or diseases affecting their ability to stand or walk.

Intervention: Participating clusters are randomized to

1. Intervention: The intervention consists of four parts: Information, local adaptions, structural changes and individual support.

2. Control: The control group will receive the intervention after the last follow-up (about 3 months later).

Methods: Data on sedentary behaviour is collected objectively using ActiGraph. Waist circumference and body fat percentage is measured. Questionnaire data will be collected on background variables, physical activity level, workplace conditions and well-being.

Data will be collected at baseline, and after 1 and 3 months.

Analysis will be carried out following the intention-to-treat principle comparing the intervention and control group. We will use several outcomes and include baseline values as a covariate (ANCOVA). In addition we will use multilevel models to account for the hierarchical structure of data (workplace, cluster and participant).

Process evaluation will be conducted by the use of qualitative interviews and questionnaire data and concern both adoptions, implementation and sustainability of the intervention.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2013-11
• Study First Submitted: 2013-11-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-11-26
• Study First Posted: 2013-11-27
• Primary Completion: 2014-06
• Study Completion: 2014-06
• Status Verified: 2016-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-08-02
• Last Update Posted: 2016-08-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 337

Inclusion Criteria

1. Workplaces should be:

   • Office-based with sedentary workers
   • Able to include four sections of about equal size (about 25 people) and which could be separated to minimize spill-over effects (e.g. four different addresses, buildings or floors).
   • Have a management willing to collaborate about the project by participating at meetings and at kick-off.
   • Should have at least some financial resources to make structural changes at the work place.

2. Individuals should be:

   • Adults >18 years
   • Sedentary office-based work-
   • Understanding of Danish
   • Without sickness or disabilities affecting their ability to stand or walk
   • Not pregnant
   • Working more than 4 days a week (>30 h)

Exclusion Criteria

• Not providing signed informed consent.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention control	Control group	Control group
Intervention group	Intervention group	Intervention group

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduced total time spend sitting at work	1 month	Method of measurement: ActiGraph, average daily sitting time during work hours.
Reduced number of prolonged siting periods (>30 min)	1 month	Method of measurement: ActiGraph, number of periods sitting \>30 min.
Increased number of breaks from sitting time	1 month	Method of measurement: ActiGraph, number of postural shifts from sitting to standing/walking

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduced musculoskeletal problems	1 month	Method of measurement: Questionnaire
Waist circumference	3 month	Method of measurement: Waist circumference measurement
Body fat percentage	3 months	Method of measurement: Body fat % is measured using a segmental body composition analyser
Reduced total time spend sitting at work	3 months	Method of measurement: ActiGraph, average daily sitting time during work hours
Reduced number of prolonged siting periods (>30 min)	3 months	Method of measurement: ActiGraph, number of periods sitting \>30 min
Increased number of breaks from sitting time	3 months	Method of measurement: ActiGraph, number of postural shifts from sitting to standing/walking

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Institute of Public Health - University of Southern Denmark; 🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark