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Participatory Workplace Interventions Can Reduce Sedentary Time for Office Workers—A Randomised Controlled Trial

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  • Sharon Parry
  • Leon Straker
  • Nicholas D Gilson
  • Anne J Smith

Abstract

Background: Occupational sedentary behaviour is an important contributor to overall sedentary risk. There is limited evidence for effective workplace interventions to reduce occupational sedentary time and increase light activity during work hours. The purpose of the study was to determine if participatory workplace interventions could reduce total sedentary time, sustained sedentary time (bouts >30 minutes), increase the frequency of breaks in sedentary time and promote light intensity activity and moderate/vigorous activity (MVPA) during work hours. Methods: A randomised controlled trial (ANZCTR number: ACTN12612000743864) was conducted using clerical, call centre and data processing workers (n = 62, aged 25–59 years) in 3 large government organisations in Perth, Australia. Three groups developed interventions with a participatory approach: ‘Active office’ (n = 19), ‘Active Workstation’ and promotion of incidental office activity; ‘Traditional physical activity’ (n = 14), pedometer challenge to increase activity between productive work time and ‘Office ergonomics’ (n = 29), computer workstation design and breaking up computer tasks. Accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X, 7 days) determined sedentary time, sustained sedentary time, breaks in sedentary time, light intensity activity and MVPA on work days and during work hours were measured before and following a 12 week intervention period. Results: For all participants there was a significant reduction in sedentary time on work days (−1.6%, p = 0.006) and during work hours (−1.7%, p = 0.014) and a significant increase in number of breaks/sedentary hour on work days (0.64, p = 0.005) and during work hours (0.72, p = 0.015); there was a concurrent significant increase in light activity during work hours (1.5%, p = 0.012) and MVPA on work days (0.6%, p = 0.012). Conclusions: This study explored novel ways to modify work practices to reduce occupational sedentary behaviour. Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time, increase the frequency of breaks and improve light activity and MVPA of office workers by using a variety of interventions. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTN12612000743864.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharon Parry & Leon Straker & Nicholas D Gilson & Anne J Smith, 2013. "Participatory Workplace Interventions Can Reduce Sedentary Time for Office Workers—A Randomised Controlled Trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0078957
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078957
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    1. Anna Puig-Ribera & Judit Bort-Roig & Angel M González-Suárez & Iván Martínez-Lemos & Maria Giné-Garriga & Josep Fortuño & Joan C Martori & Laura Muñoz-Ortiz & Raimon Milà & Jim McKenna & Nicholas D Gi, 2015. "Patterns of Impact Resulting from a ‘Sit Less, Move More’ Web-Based Program in Sedentary Office Employees," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Bradley MacDonald & Xanne Janssen & Alison Kirk & Mhairi Patience & Ann-Marie Gibson, 2018. "An Integrative, Systematic Review Exploring the Research, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance of Interventions to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour in Office Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-29, December.
    3. Sara Moreira & Maria Salomé Ferreira & Maria Begoña Criado & Jorge Machado & Cristina Mesquita & Sofia Lopes & Paula Clara Santos, 2021. "Occupational Health: Does Compliance with Physical Activity Recommendations Have a Preventive Effect on Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Computer Workers? A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Lidewij R Renaud & Erwin M Speklé & Allard J van der Beek & Hidde P van der Ploeg & H Roeline Pasman & Maaike A Huysmans, 2020. "The user and non-user perspective: Experiences of office workers with long-term access to sit-stand workstations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-20, July.
    5. Lars Donath & Oliver Faude & Yannick Schefer & Ralf Roth & Lukas Zahner, 2015. "Repetitive Daily Point of Choice Prompts and Occupational Sit-Stand Transfers, Concentration and Neuromuscular Performance in Office Workers: An RCT," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-14, April.
    6. Meng, Annette & Borg, Vilhelm & Clausen, Thomas, 2019. "Enhancing the social capital in industrial workplaces: Developing workplace interventions using intervention mapping," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 227-236.
    7. Jessica Stone & S. Fiona Barker & Danijela Gasevic & Rosanne Freak-Poli, 2023. "Participation in the Global Corporate Challenge ® , a Four-Month Workplace Pedometer Program, Reduces Psychological Distress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-23, March.
    8. Viktoria Wahlström & David Olsson & Fredrik Öhberg & Tommy Olsson & Lisbeth Slunga Järvholm, 2020. "Underlying Factors Explaining Physical Behaviors among Office Workers—An Exploratory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-16, December.
    9. Kelly Mackenzie & Elizabeth Such & Paul Norman & Elizabeth Goyder, 2021. "Using Co-Production to Develop “Sit Less at Work” Interventions in a Range of Organisations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.
    10. Vera Schellewald & Jens Kleinert & Rolf Ellegast, 2018. "Introducing a Dynamic Workstation in the Office: Insights in Characteristics of Use and Short-Term Changes of Well-Being in a 12 Week Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, November.
    11. Viktoria Wahlström & Anncristine Fjellman-Wiklund & Mette Harder & Lisbeth Slunga Järvholm & Therese Eskilsson, 2019. "Implementing a Physical Activity Promoting Program in a Flex-Office: A Process Evaluation with a Mixed Methods Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-20, December.
    12. Holly Blake & Betsy Lai & Emil Coman & Jonathan Houdmont & Amanda Griffiths, 2019. "Move-It: A Cluster-Randomised Digital Worksite Exercise Intervention in China: Outcome and Process Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-23, September.
    13. Jihoon Kim & Ryoko Mizushima & Kotaro Nishida & Masahiro Morimoto & Yoshio Nakata, 2022. "Multi-Component Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Japanese Office Workers: A Single-Arm Feasibility Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-12, December.
    14. Emily Mear & Valerie Frances Gladwell & Jamie Pethick, 2022. "The Effect of Breaking Up Sedentary Time with Calisthenics on Neuromuscular Function: A Preliminary Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, November.

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