Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time for office workers - A randomised controlled trial

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 partic...

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Main Authors: Parry, Sharon, Straker, Leon, Gilson, N., Smith, Anne
Format: Journal Article
Published: Public Library of Science 2013
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6813
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author Parry, Sharon
Straker, Leon
Gilson, N.
Smith, Anne
author_facet Parry, Sharon
Straker, Leon
Gilson, N.
Smith, Anne
author_sort Parry, Sharon
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description 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.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-68132017-09-13T14:37:52Z Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time for office workers - A randomised controlled trial Parry, Sharon Straker, Leon Gilson, N. Smith, Anne 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. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6813 10.1371/journal.pone.0078957 Public Library of Science fulltext
spellingShingle Parry, Sharon
Straker, Leon
Gilson, N.
Smith, Anne
Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time for office workers - A randomised controlled trial
title Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time for office workers - A randomised controlled trial
title_full Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time for office workers - A randomised controlled trial
title_fullStr Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time for office workers - A randomised controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time for office workers - A randomised controlled trial
title_short Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time for office workers - A randomised controlled trial
title_sort participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time for office workers - a randomised controlled trial
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6813