Examining Exercise, Health Coaching and Meditation for University Employees

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
There is evidently great potential in implementing workplace health promotion programs, but more randomized trials are needed to determine which interventions are worksite-effective in helping to decrease inactive behaviors and increase engagement in healthy lifestyle activities. For employers, it could mean improving the health and productivity of employees. For workers, especially those in physically and/or psychologically demanding positions, it could mean developing strength, muscular endurance and agility to reduce musculoskeletal pain while developing the stress reduction skills that reduce long-term sickness and absenteeism risks. While changing behavior in a complex workplace is, as seen in multiple studies, difficult due to the need to change workplace and organizational culture between employers and employees, this study aims to identify the effectiveness of workplace interventions in relation to counseling for university employees to increase overall work fitness without affecting any hierarchal interactions at the work site. Simply put, the investigators will examine the benefits of a workplace exercise and mindfulness (two-prong) intervention (in combination) vs. a group who just receive a workplace exercise intervention. Both interventions will be guided by health coaches. Given the limited research with health coaching and workplace interventions for university workers, the aim is to contribute to a developing research literature. This study is geared to engage university employees at their workplace over a 3 month period. Participants will be assessed through pre and post physical and psychological measures and will also undergo semi-structured interviews (SSI).

Detailed Description
-----------------
There is evidently great potential in implementing workplace health promotion programs, but more randomized trials are needed to determine which interventions are worksite-effective in helping to decrease inactive behaviors and increase engagement in healthy lifestyle activities. For employers, it could mean improving the health and productivity of employees. For workers, especially those in physically and/or psychologically demanding positions, it could mean developing strength, muscular endurance and agility to reduce musculoskeletal pain while developing the stress reduction skills that reduce long-term sickness and absenteeism risks. While changing behavior in a complex workplace is, as seen in multiple studies, difficult due to the need to change workplace and organizational culture between employers and employees, this study aims to identify the effectiveness of workplace interventions in relation to counseling for university employees to increase overall work fitness without affecting any hierarchal interactions at the work site. Simply put, the investigators will examine the benefits of a workplace exercise and mindfulness (two-prong) intervention (in combination) vs. a group who just receive a workplace exercise intervention. Both interventions will be guided by health coaches. Given the limited research with health coaching and workplace interventions for university workers, the aim is to contribute to a developing research literature. This study is geared to engage university employees at their workplace over a 3 month period. Participants will be assessed through pre and post physical and psychological measures and will also undergo semi-structured interviews (SSI). The investigators hypothesize that making available these various fitness and well-being programs for university employees will effectively improve their overall fitness (peak VO2) and psychological health (stress, depression, anxiety, work satisfaction), making them more efficient, positive and work-productive. Specifically, the investigators hypothesize that the exercise and mindfulness meditation group will demonstrate significant improvements when compared to the group solely receiving exercise-oriented health coaching. Improvements will be seen across all measures of physical (such as VO2 peak and BMI) and psychological (such as depression, stress, anxiety, work-life balance) function and will be sustained at 3 month follow-up, indicating a more effective means of initiating fitness at the workplace

Official Title
-----------------
The Healthy Staff Initiative Study: Examining Exercise, Health Coaching and Meditation for University Employees: a Randomized Trial

Conditions
-----------------
Motor Activity

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Exercise, Health Coaching and Meditation
* Behavioral: Exercise and Health Coaching


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Employees at York University; fluency in English; provision of informed consent Exclusion Criteria: currently engaged in regular exercise programs or routines which meet or exceed the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines neurological or musculoskeletal co-morbidities inhibiting participation in exercise program > 65 years old; medical history of cardiovascular diseases such as CAD and CHF, uncontrolled hypertension currently engaged in a mindfulness meditation program or meditative practice at advanced levels; not in possession of a smartphone (android/i-phone)

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

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

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


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Exercise and Health Coaching<br>Walking exercise protocol program, carried out by themselves, over 12 weeks. Health Coach addresses various topics with participant, half-hour sessions on a weekly (12 sessions) | Behavioral: Exercise and Health Coaching<br>* Comparing Exercise and Health Coaching Alone<br>|
| Experimental: Exercise, Health Coaching and Meditation<br>Walking exercise protocol program, carried out by themselves, over 12 weeks. Health Coach addresses various topics with participant, half-hour sessions on a weekly (12 sessions) Mindfulness Meditation intervention will incorporate varied types of MBI techniques 3 times per week for 12 weeks, during work hours and/or during their time on campus (after work hours). | Behavioral: Exercise, Health Coaching and Meditation<br>* Comparing Exercise, Health Coaching and Meditation In Combination<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VO2 Peak | Assess changes in VO2 peak over time | Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Psychological Questionnaires | Assess changes over time | Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks |