Investigating the Effectiveness of Exercise Coaching on the Physical Activity Behavior of Physically Inactive Employees.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The primary aim of this study is to investigate if and how a physical activity counselor can offer an added value in exercise promotion in physically inactive employees. We will explore if the physical activity counselor in the workplace setting can motivate sedentary employees to engage into systematic participation in sports and/or exercise by means of a short term coaching of 12 weeks. We aim to include 300 employees in the physical activity coaching process.

Detailed Description
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Being physically active on a regular basis has many health benefits. Nevertheless, the majority of the Belgian population doesn't reach the recommended amount and intensity of physical activity to profit from these health benefits. A physical activity counselor can possibly play a crucial role for these physically inactive individuals. He/she can design an individualized exercise program to stimulate the person to become lifelong physical active. Research has shown that exercise promotion at work can result in a lower absenteeism, prevention of burn-out and a positive corporate identity.

Official Title
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Investigating the Effectiveness of Exercise Coaching on the Physical Activity Behavior of Physically Inactive Employees in a Company in Flanders: a Randomized Control Trial.

Conditions
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Sedentary Lifestyle

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: physical activity coaching


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Employee of Janssen Pharmaceutics Belgium Physically inactive lifestyle (not reaching 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a week) PAR-Q questionnaire all answers negative, if one or more answers are positive a permission of a physician is necessary Exclusion Criteria: none

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control condition<br>Physically inactive employees are measured on anthropometrics, fitness and psycho-social variables. | |
| Experimental: Physical Activity Coaching<br>Physically inactive employees receiving a 12-week behavioural support intervention grounded in self-determination theory. | Behavioral: physical activity coaching<br>* After measuring physical actity, physical fitness level, anthropometric and psychosocial variables a personalized 12 week physical activity program is made (=baseline). The intervention consisted of two face-to-face counselling sessions at the start of the intervention, short contacts by e-mail or telephone at weeks 3, 6 and 9, and two face-to-face counselling sessions at the end of the intervention. Employees exercise on their own. After 12 weeks and 6 months all measures are repeated.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in objective measure of degree of physical activity | Sensewear: accelerometer worn on the upper arm during 7 consecutive days measuring the physical activity pattern during this period | baseline, 12 weeks, 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in health-related anthropometric measures | Weight, Abdominal circumference, Bodycomposition (fat- and musclepercentage) | baseline, 12 weeks, 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Physical activity counselor, Workplace intervention, Active and healthy lifestyle