Respiratory and Physical Outcomes in Different Types of Office Workers

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Work-related Illness
• Interventions: Other: Physical Evaluations of individuals

• Registration Number: NCT06216431
• Lead Sponsor: Izmir Democracy University

Brief Summary

There are no studies in the literature reporting the posture, chest mobility, dyspnea, flexibility, quality of life and physical activity levels of emergency call center employees. The aims of this observational study are; 1) to evaluate posture, chest mobility, strength, dyspnea, flexibility, musculoskeletal disorders, physical activity and quality of life in emergency call center workers and office workers, 2) to reveal the relationships between these parameters of both research groups and 3) The aim is to compare these measurement parameters in emergency call center workers and office workers.

Detailed Description

Over time, there has been an increase in the number of office workers and the use of computers. Working in a static position for long working hours and improper working postures can lead to loss of flexibility in the muscles, decrease in thoracic mobility, pain in the musculoskeletal system and deterioration of ideal posture. Emergency call center employees work long hours, in shifts that require serious attention, where stress is intense and the circadian rhythm is disrupted. There is no study in the literature that evaluates the posture, chest mobility, dyspnea, flexibility and physical activity levels of emergency call center employees. Therefore, the aim of our study is; It is a comparative evaluation of posture, chest mobility, cough strength, dyspnea flexibility, musculoskeletal disorders, physical activity level and quality of life in emergency call center operators and desk workers.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-12-29
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-01-10
• Study First Posted: 2024-01-22
• Study Start: 2024-02-28
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-16
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-18
• Primary Completion: 2026-04-15
• Study Completion: 2026-12-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 52

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

• Have any history of acute/chronic infection, physical or mental disability/disease and/or cognitive impairment that would prevent measurement.
• Being pregnant
• Being able to exercise regularly

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Office workers	Physical Evaluations of individuals	This group will consist of office workers who work actively at a desk.
Emergency call center workers	Physical Evaluations of individuals	This group will consist of individuals working as operators at Izmir 112 Emergency Call Center.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Handgrip strength	up to 5 minutes	Hand grip strength will be measured using the Jamar hand dynamometer.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cough strength	up to 2-3 minutes	Cough strength will be evaluated using a PEFmeter.
Dyspnea	up to 1 minute	Dyspnea will be assessed using the Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) Scale. This scale is a five-item scale based on various physical activities that cause a feeling of shortness of breath (dyspnea). As the score an individual gets from the scale increases, the perception of shortness of breath also increases.
Pinch strength	up to 5 minutes	Pinch strength will be evaluated using a hydraulic pinch dynamometer.
Thoracic mobility	up to 5 minutes	Individuals will be asked to sit in an upright sitting position with their arms slightly open, and their chest circumference will be measured with a tape measure at three different levels (axillary, epigastric, subcostal) at rest, deep breathing (maximum inspiration) and deep exhalation (maximum expiration). The difference between measurements will be recorded in centimeters.
Posture	up to 5 minutes	Posture will be evaluated with sensorless posture analysis software based on the artificial intelligence concept created by Fizyosoft and Becure.
Musculoskeletal pain	up to 5 minutes	Musculoskeletal pain will be assessed using the Turkish version of the Cornell Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. The score is obtained by multiplying the weighted scores corresponding to the individual's answer. The scores obtained for each region range between 0 and 90, and higher scores indicate higher levels of pain disorder.
Physical activity level	up to 2 minutes	Physical activity level will be assessed using the Turkish version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form."MET-min/week" scores were obtained by multiplying the minutes, days, and MET (which is set by convention at 3.5 milliliter of oxygen per kilogram per minute) values of each activity. According to these scores, individuals were classified as inactive, minimally active, and sufficiently active.
Health-related quality of life	up to 5 minutes	Quality of life will be assessed using the SF-36. It consists of eight subscales including physical function, role limitations due to physical health and emotional problems, vitality, emotional well-being, social function, bodily pain, and general health. Each subscale is scored between 0 (poorer health) and 100 (better health).
Flexibility	up to 5 minutes	Flexibility will be evaluated with sit-reach test, pectoral shortness tests, and shoulder adductor and internal rotator shortness tests.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Izmir Democracy University; 🇹🇷 İzmir, Turkey