Planning for sedentary behaviour interventions: office workers’ survey and focus group responses

McGuckin, Teneale; Sealey, Rebecca; Barnett, Fiona

doi:10.1177/1757913917698003

Cited by 23 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Task-based and phone-based types of strategies as well as strategies pertaining to work breaks and listening to your body were common across each of the intervention targets. This is in line with previous research, with strategies such as these reported to be regularly used [ 33 , 34 ] and potentially feasible to implement [ 35 , 36 ] in interventions to reduce workplace sitting time. The popularity of nominating phone-based prompts suggests this was highly appropriate for the tasks undertaken in the workers job roles.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

What strategies do desk-based workers choose to reduce sitting time and how well do they work? Findings from a cluster randomised controlled trial

Stephens

Eakin

Clark

et al. 2018

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

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BackgroundLarge amounts of sitting at work have been identified as an emerging occupational health risk, and findings from intervention trials have been reported. However, few such reports have examined participant-selected strategies and their relationships with behaviour change.MethodsThe Stand Up Victoria cluster-randomised controlled trial was a workplace-delivered intervention comprising organisational, environmental and individual level behaviour change strategies aimed at reducing sitting time in desk-based workers. Sit-stand workstations were provided, and participants (n = 134; intervention group only) were guided by health coaches to identify strategies for the ‘Stand Up’, ‘Sit Less’, and ‘Move More’ intervention targets, including how long they would stand using the workstation. Three-month workplace sitting and activity changes (activPAL3-assessed total sitting, prolonged sitting (i.e., sitting ≥30 min continuously) and purposeful walking) were evaluated in relation to the number (regression analysis) and types of strategies (decision-tree analysis).ResultsOver 80 different strategies were nominated by participants. Each additional strategy nominated for the ‘Stand Up’ intervention target (i.e. number of strategies) was associated with a reduction in prolonged sitting of 27.6 min/8-h workday (95% CI: -53.1, − 2.1, p = 0.034). Types of strategies were categorised into 13 distinct categories. Strategies that were task-based and phone-based were common across all three targets. The decision tree models did not select any specific strategy category as predicting changes in prolonged sitting (‘Stand Up’), however four strategy categories were identified as important for total sitting time (‘Sit Less’) and three strategy categories for purposeful walking (‘Moving More’). The uppermost nodes (foremost predictors) were nominating > 3 h/day of workstation standing (reducing total workplace sitting) and choosing a ‘Move More’ task-based strategy (purposeful walking).ConclusionsWorkers chose a wide range of strategies, with both strategy choice and strategy quantity appearing relevant to behavioural improvement. Findings support a tailored and pragmatic approach to encourage a change in sitting and activity in the workplace. Evaluating participant-selected strategies in the context of a successful intervention serves to highlight options that may prove feasible and effective in other desk-based workplace environments.Trial registrationThis trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials register (ACTRN12611000742976) on 15 July 2011,Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12966-018-0731-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

What strategies do desk-based workers choose to reduce sitting time and how well do they work? Findings from a cluster randomised controlled trial

Stephens

Eakin

Clark

et al. 2018

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

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“…The interview responses suggested that interventions should include education about sitting guidelines, health and emotional consequences of prolonged sitting and the benefits of reducing sitting time; prompts to serve as reminders to break up sitting; environmental modification, such as the provision of height-adjustable desks to alternate between sitting and standing without disrupting work; and changes to social and organisational support. Previous studies [71][72][73] have reported similar findings that breaks from prolonged sitting need to be seen as a "normal" activity in the workplace in order to prevent perceived criticism from colleagues. Organisational support would address this change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Breaking barriers: using the Behavior Change Wheel to develop a tailored intervention to overcome workplace inhibitors to breaking up sitting time

Ojo

Bailey

Brierley

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Background: The workplace is a prominent domain for excessive sitting. The consequences of increased sitting time include adverse health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and poor mental wellbeing. There is evidence that breaking up sitting could improve health, however, any such intervention in the workplace would need to be informed by a theoretical evidence-based framework. The aim of this study was to use the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to develop a tailored intervention to break up and reduce workplace sitting in desk-based workers. Methods: The BCW guide was followed for this qualitative, pre-intervention development study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 office workers (26-59 years, mean age 40.9 [SD=10.8] years; 68% female) who were purposively recruited from local council offices and a university in the East of England region. The interview questions were developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Transcripts were deductively analysed using the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation – Behaviour) model of behaviour. The Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy Version 1 (BCTv1) was thereafter used to identify possible strategies that could be used to facilitate change in sitting behaviour of office workers in a future intervention. Results: Qualitative analysis using COM-B identified that participants felt that they had the physical Capability to break up their sitting time, however, some lacked the psychological Capability in relation to the knowledge of both guidelines for sitting time and the consequences of excess sitting. Social and physical Opportunity was identified as important, such as a supportive organisational culture (social) and the need for environmental resources (physical). Reflective and automatic Motivation was highlighted as a core target for intervention. Seven intervention functions and three policy categories from the BCW were identified as relevant. Finally, 39 behaviour change techniques (BCTs) were identified as potential active components for an intervention to break up sitting time in the workplace. Conclusions: The TDF, COM-B model and BCW can be successfully applied through a systematic process to understand the drivers of behaviour of office workers to develop a co-created intervention that can be used to break up and decrease prolonged sitting in the workplace.

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“… - Difficult concentrating when standing - Needing further instruction on how to engage with strategies - Need appropriate footwear for standing - Individual frustrations with strategies (see Strategy-specific barriers and facilitators) Habit: “ ... I have the intention, but I forget to get up ...” Employee, intervention study [ 20 ] Individual choice: “I’ve gone from a standing up for 10 hours a day job, so I enjoy the sitting” Employee, non-intervention study [ 48 ] Facilitators Facilitators - Individual motivation or commitment - Feeling personal benefits from reducing sitting - Individual motivation or personal challenge - Awareness of amount of time spent sitting - Sitting less becoming habitual - Experiencing health benefits from sitting less (such as reduced tiredness, greater concentration or alleviating musculoskeletal problems) - Perceived improvement in concentration/productivity - Having the choice and flexibility to change posture Individual motivation: “I used to make a conscious effort to get up out of my desk, talk to people, interact. It comes down to the individual.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of the acceptability and feasibility of reducing occupational sitting: review and thematic synthesis

Hadgraft

Brakenridge

Dunstan

et al. 2018

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

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BackgroundReducing workplace sedentary behaviour (sitting) is a topic of contemporary public health and occupational health interest. Understanding workers’ perspectives on the feasibility and acceptability of strategies, and barriers and facilitators to reducing workplace sitting time, can help inform the design and implementation of targeted interventions. The aim of this qualitative synthesis was to identify and synthesise the evidence on factors perceived to influence the acceptability and feasibility of reducing sitting at work, without, and with, an associated intervention component.MethodsA systematic search of the peer-reviewed literature was conducted across multiple databases in October 2017 to identify studies with a qualitative component relating to reducing workplace sitting time. Relevant data were extracted and imported into NVivo, and analysed by three of the authors by coding the results sections of papers line-by-line, with codes organised into sub-themes and then into overarching themes. Studies with and without an associated intervention were analysed separately.ResultsThirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria, 22 of which had collected qualitative data during and/or following a workplace intervention. Sample sizes ranged from five through to 71 participants. Studies predominately involved desk-based workers (28/32) and were most frequently conducted in Australia, USA or the United Kingdom (26/32). Similar themes were identified across non-intervention and intervention studies, particularly relating to barriers and facilitators to reducing workplace sitting. Predominately, work and social environment attributes were identified as barriers/facilitators, with desk-based work and work pressures influencing the perceived feasibility of reducing sitting, particularly for low-cost interventions. Support from co-workers and managers was considered a key facilitator to reducing sitting, while social norms that discouraged movement were a prominent barrier. Across all studies, some consistent perceptions of benefits to reducing sitting were identified, including improved physical health, enhanced emotional well-being and associated work-related benefits.ConclusionCommon barriers and facilitators to reducing workplace sitting time were identified across the literature, most prominently involving the social environment and job-related demands. These findings can inform the design and implementation of workplace sitting reduction strategies. To increase the generalisability of findings, further research is needed in a more diverse range of countries and industries.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12966-018-0718-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Planning for sedentary behaviour interventions: office workers’ survey and focus group responses

Abstract: Multiple behavioural strategies were identified, which appear to be appropriate for sedentary behaviour change.

Cited by 23 publications

References 34 publications

What strategies do desk-based workers choose to reduce sitting time and how well do they work? Findings from a cluster randomised controlled trial

What strategies do desk-based workers choose to reduce sitting time and how well do they work? Findings from a cluster randomised controlled trial

Breaking barriers: using the Behavior Change Wheel to develop a tailored intervention to overcome workplace inhibitors to breaking up sitting time

Perceptions of the acceptability and feasibility of reducing occupational sitting: review and thematic synthesis

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