National Implementation Trial of BeUpstanding™: An Online Initiative for Workers to Sit Less and Move More
Authors: Healy Genevieve N. , Goode Ana D. , Ulyate Lisa , Abbott Alison , Dunstan David , Eakin Elizabeth G. , Gilson Nicholas D. , Gunning Lynn , Jetann Jodie , LaMontagne Anthony D. , Moodie Marj , Mulcahy Samantha , Owen Neville , Shilton Trevor , Sweeny Leanne , Straker Leon , Winkler Elisabeth A.H. 
Published: July 2024

Background

The online BeUpstandingTMprogram is an eight-week workplace-delivered intervention for desk-based workers to raise awareness of the benefits of sitting less and moving more and build a supportive culture for change. A workplace representative (the “champion”) delivers the program, which includes a workshop where teams collectively choose their sit less/move more strategies. A toolkit provides the champion with a step-by-step guide and associated resources to support program uptake, delivery, and evaluation. Here we report on the main findings from the Australian national implementation trial of BeUpstanding.

Methods

Recruitment (12/06/2019 to 30/09/2021) was supported by five policy and practice partners, with desk-based work teams from across Australia targeted. Effectiveness was measured via a single arm, repeated-measures trial. Data were collected via online surveys, toolkit analytics, and telephone calls with champions. The RE-AIM framework guided evaluation, with adoption/reach (number and characteristics); effectiveness (primary: self-reported workplace sitting time); implementation (completion of core components; costs); and, maintenance intentions reported here. Linear mixed models, correcting for cluster, were used for effectiveness, with reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance outcomes described.

Results

Of the 1640 website users who signed-up to BeUpstanding during the recruitment period, 233 were eligible, 198 (85%) provided preliminary consent, and 118 (50.6%) champions consented and started the trial, with 94% (n=111 champions) completing. Trial participation was from across Australia and across industries, and reached 2,761 staff, with 2,248 participating in the staff survey(s): 65% female, 64% university educated; 16.9% from non-English speaking background. The program effectively changed workplace sitting (−38.5 [95%CI −46.0 to −28.7] minutes/8-hour workday) and all outcomes targeted by BeUpstanding (behaviours and culture), with small-to-moderate statistically-significant effects observed. All participating teams (n=94) completed at least 5/7 core steps; 72.4% completed all seven. Most champions spent $0 (72%) or >$0-$5 (10%) per team member; most (67/70 96%) intended to continue or repeat the program.

Conclusions

BeUpstanding can be adopted and successfully implemented by a range of workplaces, reach a diversity of staff, and be effective at creating a supportive culture for teams of desk-based workers to sit less and move more. Learnings will inform optimisation of the program for longer-term sustainability.

Trial registration

ACTRN12617000682347.

The trial was prospectively registered on the 12thMay, 2017 (ACTRN12617000682347), prior to the soft launch of the program, with the last update on the 11thJune, 2019 prior to the commencement of recruitment to the trial on the 12thJune, 2019.