The Effect of Breaking up Sitting in the Workplace on Cardiometabolic Risk and Worker Productivity

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will examine the effect of a tailored workplace intervention based on interrupting sitting on work productivity, well-being and cardio-metabolic risk in office workers. The experimental group in the 8-week intervention will be prompted to alternate between sitting and standing while working. The ratio between sitting and standing will begin at 3:1 (two hours per day in an eight-hour day) and increase to 1:1 (four hours per day in an eight-hour day) by the end of the second week of the eight-week intervention.

Official Title
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Pilot Study of a Tailored Intervention to Break up Sitting in the Workplace on Cardiometabolic Risk and Worker Productivity

Conditions
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Sedentary Lifestyle

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Breaking up sitting


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Full-time office employees from any ethnic background, PC/Android phone users, and recruited from two different work sites. Exclusion Criteria: Pregnancy History of musculoskeletal complaint Non-ambulatory Having a planned holiday that would mean they would not be at work for more than two weeks during the 8-week intervention period.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 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 |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Breaking up sitting time<br>A behaviour-change intervention to break up prolonged sitting in the workplace | Behavioral: Breaking up sitting<br>* A three-part behaviour change intervention, including: Supportive organisational culture and knowledge of consequence of prolonged sitting Environmental Modification Behavioural Changes<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>The participants in the control group will continue their daily activities as normal without any form of information about the intervention. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in sitting time (objective) | Evaluation of change in sitting time in the workplace using wearable accelerometers (ActivPAL3; PAL Technologies Ltd., Glasgow, UK). The ActivPAL will be worn on the right thigh. | Change from baseline sitting time at 8 weeks | 
| Change in physical activity level (objective) | Evaluation of physical activity time in the workplace using wearable accelerometers (ActivPAL3; PAL Technologies Ltd., Glasgow, UK). The ActivPAL will be worn on the right thigh. | Change from baseline physical activity level at 8 weeks | 
| Change in sitting time (subjective) | The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) will be used to provide a subjective measure of sitting. The scale provides a measure of reported sitting time in minutes. | Change from baseline sitting time at 8 weeks | 
| Change in physical activity level (subjective) | The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) will be used to provide a subjective measure of physical activity level. The scale provides a measure of reported sitting time in minutes for each of three types of physical activity (vigorous, moderate, and walking). | Change from baseline physical activity level at 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Absenteeism | Participants will be asked to respond to questions on the Gaudine and Gregory questionnaire on unsanctioned absence. Self-reported absenteeism will be calculated by adding the number of days reported for all the three questions. | Change from baseline absenteeism at 8 weeks | 
| Presenteeism | Presenteeism will be measured using Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ). The WLQ requires employees to self-report their level of difficulty (or ability) to perform 25 specific job demands in the last 2 weeks. Answers generated for the 25 items will be grouped into four work limitation scales including Time Management; Physical Demands; Mental/Interpersonal and Output Demands. The scores for each subscale range from 0-100%, with 0 equivalent to no limitation and 100 equivalent to complete limitation. | Change from baseline presenteeism at 8 weeks | 
| Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) | Participants will be prompted at random four times between 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday to complete a short questionnaire which will only take them 60 seconds to complete whilst in sitting position, standing and /or in walking position to enter their level of productivity. | Eight weeks | 
| Height | Measurement of height | Once at baseline | 
| Change in weight | Measurement of weight | Change from baseline weight at 8 weeks | 
| Change in waist circumference | Measurement waist circumference | Change from baseline waist circumference at 8 weeks | 
| Blood pressure | Systolic and diastolic blood pressure on the right arm after resting for at least 10 min in a seated position using an automated blood pressure monitor (Omron HEM705 CP, Omron Healthcare UK Limited, Milton Keynes, UK). | Change from baseline blood pressure at 8 weeks | 
| Change in fasting total cholesterol | Blood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of total cholesterol will be made. | Change from baseline fasting total cholesterol at 8 weeks | 
| Change in fasting high-density lipoprotein | Blood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of high-density lipoprotein will be made. | Change from baseline fasting high-density lipoprotein at 8 weeks | 
| Change in fasting triglycerides | Blood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of triglycerides will be made. | Change from baseline fasting triglycerides at 8 weeks | 
| Change in fasting blood glucose levels | Blood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of blood glucose levels will be made. | Change from baseline fasting blood glucose levels at 8 weeks | 
| Stress | Cohen Perceived Stress questionnaire will be used to assess perception of stress. It primarily evaluates the unpredictability, uncontrollability and overload of an individual's life. | Change from baseline stress at 8 weeks | 
| Mood | The positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) questionnaire is a 20-item self-report measure of both positive and negative affect. | Change from baseline mood at 8 weeks | 
| Mental Wellbeing | The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental well-being Scale will be used to determine whether mental wellbeing changes. This scale has 14 questions, with each question scored from 1-5, giving a total score from 14-70. | Change from baseline mental wellbeing at 8 weeks | 
| Self-efficacy | A generalised four-point Likert scale questionnaire will be used to measure the self-efficacy of the participants. | Change from baseline self-efficacy at 8 weeks |