Effects of Installing Height-adjustable Workstations on Office Workers Workplace Sitting Time and Productivity

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study was to look at the effects that height-adjustable workstations on occupational sitting time and workplace productivity in office workers. Participants workplace activity (sitting, standing and walking) and productivity was measured before the installation of the height-adjustable workstations. Workplace activity and productivity were then measured four weeks after the installation of height-adjustable workstations. The results were compared to a control group who received no intervention whilst the intervention had the height-adjustable workstations.

Detailed Description
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Sedentary behaviour has been found to be ubiquitous within the workplace and due to the negative consequences of sedentary behaviour upon health, research has began to look at ways to reduce and interrupt sedentary behaviour. Interventions that have introduced height-adjustable workstations into the workplace have been found to reduce sedentary behaviour. Some employees and employers are concerned that using height-adjustable workstations and trying to reduce workplace sedentary behaviour can lead to a loss of workplace productivity. The present study looked at the effects of installing height-adjustable workstations on occupational sitting time and workplace productivity in desk-based workers. Workplace activity was measured objectively using ActivPal accelerometers and productivity was measured via self-report measures. Measurements took place at baseline and four weeks after receiving the height-adjustable workstation.

Official Title
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Effects of Installing Height-adjustable Workstations on Occupational Sitting Time and Workplace Productivity in Desk-based Workers

Conditions
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Workplace Inactivity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Height-adjustable workstation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age 18 to 65 years, working ≥0.6 full time equivalents, access to a work telephone and desktop computer with internet, not pregnant, no planned absence >1 week during the trial, not chair-bound or uniquely impaired such that reducing occupational sitting time was not feasible, no pre-existing musculoskeletal disorder. Exclusion Criteria: -

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 |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Height-adjustable workstation<br>Participants received a height-adjustable workstation for four weeks | Device: Height-adjustable workstation<br> <br> |
| No Intervention: Control<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Workplace Sedentary Time | The amount of time a participant spends sitting whilst in the workplace (minutes). This was measured using a thigh-worn ActivPAL accelerometer. | Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Workplace Absenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | Self-reported absolute absenteeism (the amount of time a participant was absent from work for during the previous 7-days) measured using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire. This is calculated in relation to a participants contracted hours, therefore a negative score shows that a participant worked less than they are contracted to, where as a positive score means a participant reported working more hours than they are contracted to. | Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations | 
| Change in Workplace Presenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | Self-reported absolute presenteeism (an employees productivity during working hours) measured using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire. The higher the percentage, the more productive a participant felt they were. 100% means that they felt they were productive the whole time they were working. Presenteeism can be impacted upon by illness and other health conditions, if a person was feeling ill or had a back problem, this may mean that they are less productive whilst at work. | Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations |