Using a Combined Health Action Process Approach and mHealth Intervention to Increase Non-Sedentary Behaviours in Office-Working Adults - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Using a randomized controlled trial design, the purpose of this study will be to examine whether combining a HAPA-based intervention, specifically action and coping planning, with a tailored text message intervention can reduce workplace sitting time by increasing frequency and length of breaks from sitting and non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) behaviours (i.e., standing, light-intensity physical activity) among office-working adults. A secondary purpose will be to examine the effects of the intervention on participants' action planning, coping planning and action control regarding reducing their workplace sitting time, as well as self-rated work performance and health-related outcomes (i.e., role limitations due to physical health, role limitations due to personal or emotional problems, emotional well-being, and energy/fatigue). Another secondary objective will be to determine if action and coping planning and action control towards reducing workplace sitting time are related to actual break behaviour, time spent standing, and time spent in light-intensity physical activity.

If successful, participants in the intervention group (sedentary intervention group) will report reduced workplace sitting time, and greater break frequency and break duration, time spent standing, and time spent in light-intensity physical activity, compared to participants in the control group (no treatment). In addition, it is hypothesized that participants in the intervention group will report greater action and coping planning and action control towards reducing workplace sitting time, as well as improved work- and health-related outcomes.

This study will employ a prospective, 2-group, repeated measures, randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. Participants will be full-time adult, office workers primarily recruited from large businesses and office spaces.

Potential participants (estimated enrolment: 112) will be recruited by Andrew Scott Rollo, Principal Investigator, for this study. Relevant contacts/liaisons and/or senior executives (i.e., Head of Human Resources, President, Chief Executive Officer, Office Manager) at potential businesses of interest will be sought out via publically available sources (e.g., London Chamber of Commerce Business Directory, company websites, etc.) and contacted via email. The email will include a letter of information (LOI) and recruitment poster and request the individual's assistance with recruitment. For each business/office, if the individual accepts the invitation and informs the researchers that he/she is willing to aid with the recruitment process, the individual will then be asked to email all full-time employees in their respective office/business and offer them the opportunity to participate. In this recruitment email, the recruitment poster and Letter of Information will be provided. Participants will be instructed to contact the researcher via email and/or phone if they wish to participate or receive additional details prior to making a decision as to whether to participate. A second recruitment approach will involve recruiting full-time adult, office workers through recruitment posters distributed through social media (i.e., Facebook, LinkedIn) and public advertisements (i.e., transit stations, newspapers). The study will also be advertised through emails sent out to various faculties at Western University. Recruitment posters and LOIs will be posted on social media and in public spaces. As stated previous, office-workers interested in the study will be instructed to contact the researcher via email and/or phone to sign up for study participation.

At this point of contact, an email response will be sent to any interested individual. Adult office-workers who choose to take part in this study will receive a link via email that directs them to the Letter of Information, Informed Consent, and questionnaire for assessment of baseline measurements, which will be administered through a third party website called SoSci (online survey service). Participants will be assured that participation in this study is voluntary, that they are free to discontinue and withdraw from the study at any time, and that they may choose to skip any questions that they do not wish to answer without any effect on their employment status/work conditions. In other words, refusing to participate, refusing to answer any questions or withdrawing from the study will not impact their employment beyond potentially not receiving benefits associated with study participation. After viewing the Letter of Information and indicating that they consent to participate in the study (by clicking "I agree" on the survey), participants will be asked to complete a brief demographics questionnaire, followed by a questionnaire for baseline assessment of primary and secondary outcomes. In the initial email response sent to potential participants, participants randomized into the intervention group will also be asked to provide a day and time (within 3 days of completing the baseline assessment) that they would be available to schedule the behavioural counselling session they will receive.