Santos et al. BMC Public Health 2011, 11:60 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/60 Page 3 of 7 Excluded: Workers less than 18 years old, on sick leave, on vacation, at night shift, or considered not assessed due to company requirements. Written Informed Consent Stratified Randomization, Baseline WLQ and SF-36 ASSESSED FOR ELIGIBILITY (n=131) ENROLLMENT n=120 (51 Clerical + 69 Production) ENROLLMENT n=101 (42 Clerical, 56 Production) INTERVENTION GROUP (n= 50) Not answered baseline questionnaires (n=2) Transferred to the night shift (n=1) Lost to follow-up: by desmissed (n=4) not answered 5 week questionnaires (n=2)* CONTROL GROUP (n= 51) Not answered baseline questionnaires (n=1) Answered later and was excluded (n=2) Lost to follow-up by desmissed (n=1) not answered 5 week questionnaires (n=3)* not attended the educational meetings (n=1) ALLOCATED TO INTERVENTION (n=47) ALLOCATED TO INTERVENTION (n=48) FOLLOW-UP 5 WEEK (n=41) FOLLOW-UP 5 WEEK (n=43) Not answered 26 week questionnaires (n=4)* Not aswered 26 week questionnaires (n=8)* FOLLOW-UP 26 WEEK (n=39) FOLLOW-UP 26 WEEK (n=38) ANALYZED (n=43)** ANALYZED (n=46)** * The subjects remained under study. ** Includ subjects that aswered baseline questionnaire and at weeks 5 and/or 26. Figure 1 Flow diagrams of subjects through the trial. and stretching of the upper extremities, neck, lower back and lower extremities. - Sixth meeting: review of the subjects discussed in previous meetings and general health orientations concerning sleep, alimentation, hygiene, physical activities and well-being. Individuals allocated to the control group participated in six consecutive weekly meetings of one hour duration at the worksite, during working hours, and up to 25 individuals participated in each meeting. The entire sequence of control group meetings began in the week following the end of the series of intervention group sessions. Both groups were conducted in same season (winter). The educational program was delivered by a general practitioner (KFR) using “group dynamics” techniques (involving interaction, discussion, dramatiza- tion of daily living and work related activities) with flip- charts and printed material (no computer-based resources were used during the sessions). This program consisted of explanations and debates about important general health themes, as described below.