Using Internet of Things to Reduce Office Workers’ Sedentary Behavior: Intervention Development Applying the Behavior Change Wheel and Human-Centered Design Approach

Huang, Yitong; Benford, Steve; Price, Dominic; Patel, Roma; Li, Benqian; Ivanov, Alex; Blake, Holly

doi:10.2196/17914

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…The process evaluation should be reported to provide important information about how to replicate the intervention and what generalisable knowledge can be drawn from the implementation [ 26 , 27 ]. Encouragingly, there have been several recent sit less studies published which have reported intervention development or implementation processes [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Finally, future research could consider contextual factors that may present as competing priorities and could consider focusing on how to alter organisational culture by challenging the social norms of workplace sitting in order to successfully implement such interventions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Implementation of “Sit Less at Work” Interventions in Three Organisations: A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation

Mackenzie

Such

Norman

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Long periods of workplace sitting are associated with poor health outcomes. Interventions to reduce workplace sitting time have had variable impacts, the reasons for which require further investigation. In this paper, we report on a process evaluation aiming to determine the intervention fidelity of three “sit less at work” interventions and to explore barriers and enablers to implementation, using a mixed methods “before and after” intervention study design. Convenience samples of staff were recruited from three diverse organisations to participate in pre- and post-intervention online questionnaires, objective measures of sitting time (using activPAL3™ devices) and post-intervention focus groups. Intervention implementers and key personnel were also recruited to participate in post-intervention focus groups and interviews. The process evaluation found that none of the interventions were implemented as intended, with no consistent reductions in sitting time. Contextual and organisational cultural barriers included workload pressures and the social norms of sitting, competing priorities, lack of management buy-in, and perceptions of where the responsibility for behaviour change should come from. To ensure effective implementation of future initiatives, deeper organisational-level change, requiring buy-in from all levels of management and staff, may be needed to shift organisational culture and associated social norms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Implementation of “Sit Less at Work” Interventions in Three Organisations: A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation

Mackenzie

Such

Norman

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…The WorkMyWay intervention was developed in accordance with the framework of the UK MRC for complex intervention research [26], by following through the process of identifying and summarizing the best available evidence [16], developing a theoretical understanding that is likely to account for the process of change [27], theorizing the intervention in terms of the key behavior change techniques and mechanisms, and involving the target recipients and stakeholders of the intervention throughout the development process [17].…”

Section: Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have previously reported, in detail, the design and development of an IoT-enabled occupational SB intervention called WorkMyWay following the Behavior Change Wheel and human-centered design approach [17]. In this paper, we report the next phase of research, namely the "feasibility phase," under the framework of the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) for developing and evaluating complex interventions [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility and Acceptability of an Internet of Things–Enabled Sedentary Behavior Intervention: Mixed Methods Study

Huang¹,

Benford²,

Price³

et al. 2023

J Med Internet Res

Self Cite

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Background Encouraging office workers to break up prolonged sedentary behavior (SB) at work with regular microbreaks can be beneficial yet challenging. The Internet of Things (IoT) offers great promise for delivering more subtle and hence acceptable behavior change interventions in the workplace. We previously developed an IoT-enabled SB intervention, called WorkMyWay, by applying a combination of theory-informed and human-centered design approaches. According to the Medical Research Council’s framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions such as WorkMyWay, process evaluation in the feasibility phase can help establish the viability of novel modes of delivery and identify facilitators and barriers to successful delivery. Objective This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the WorkMyWay intervention and its technological delivery system. Methods A mixed methods approach was adopted. A sample of 15 office workers were recruited to use WorkMyWay during work hours for 6 weeks. Questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention period to assess self-report occupational sitting and physical activity (OSPA) and psychosocial variables theoretically aligned with prolonged occupational SB (eg, intention, perceived behavioral control, prospective memory and retrospective memory of breaks, and automaticity of regular break behaviors). Behavioral and interactional data were obtained through the system database to determine adherence, quality of delivery, compliance, and objective OSPA. Semistructured interviews were conducted at the end of the study, and a thematic analysis was performed on interview transcripts. Results All 15 participants completed the study (attrition=0%) and on average used the system for 25 tracking days (out of a possible 30 days; adherence=83%). Although no significant change was observed in either objective or self-report OSPA, postintervention improvements were significant in the automaticity of regular break behaviors (t14=2.606; P=.02), retrospective memory of breaks (t14=7.926; P<.001), and prospective memory of breaks (t14=–2.661; P=.02). The qualitative analysis identified 6 themes, which lent support to the high acceptability of WorkMyWay, though delivery was compromised by issues concerning Bluetooth connectivity and factors related to user behaviors. Fixing technical issues, tailoring to individual differences, soliciting organizational supports, and harnessing interpersonal influences could facilitate delivery and enhance acceptance. Conclusions It is acceptable and feasible to deliver an SB intervention with an IoT system that involves a wearable activity tracking device, an app, and a digitally augmented everyday object (eg, cup). More industrial design and technological development work on WorkMyWay is warranted to improve delivery. Future research should seek to establish the broad acceptability of similar IoT-enabled interventions while expanding the range of digitally augmented objects as the modes of delivery to meet diverse needs.

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“…Additionally, the BCW provides theory-based linkages between COM-B components, intervention functions, BCTs, and policy categories [ 27 ]. The BCW has been widely applied to design behavior change interventions that target some health-related behaviors, such as eating habits [ 31 ], sedentary behavior [ 32 ], weight management [ 33 ] and physical activity behavior [ 34 , 35 ]. Moreover, the intervention drawing on the BCW framework has showed benefits in improving the adherence to healthy eating, exercise, and body composition [ 36 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a behavior change intervention to improve physical activity adherence in individuals with metabolic syndrome using the behavior change wheel

et al. 2022

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Background Adherence to physical activity is inadequate in adults with metabolic syndrome. Adherence to physical activity recommendations is crucial and can result in improved health outcomes and reduced medical burdens. A comprehensive behavior change intervention, including identifying determinants of adherence to physical activity recommendations, intervention options, intervention content and implementation options, was imperative for enhancing physical activity adherence. The aim of the study is to develop an intervention to increase physical activity adherence among individuals with metabolic syndrome. Methods The study followed the eight steps of the Behavior Change Wheel guide, including defining the problem in behavioral terms (Step 1), selecting target behavior (Step 2), specifying target behavior (Step 3), identifying what needs to change (Step 4), identifying intervention functions (Step 5), identifying policy categories (Step 6), identifying behavior change techniques (Step 7), and determining model of delivery (Step 8). The semi-structured, in-depth interviews were employed to identify the determinants of adherence to physical activity among twenty-eight individuals with metabolic syndrome based on capability, opportunity, motivation and behavior model. Next, the intervention functions and policy categories were chosen to address these determinants. Finally, behavior change techniques were selected to assist in the delivery of the intervention functions and be translated into intervention content. Results Our study identified eighteen facilitators and fifteen barriers to physical activity adherence. It resulted in the selection of seven intervention functions and nineteen behavior change techniques for the intervention program. Then, the current study identified an app as the delivery mode. Finally, a behavioral change intervention was generated for individuals with metabolic syndrome to increase physical activity recommendation adherence. Conclusions The Behavior Change Wheel provided a systematic approach to designing a behavior change intervention, which helped improve the health outcomes and reduce medical burdens and economic burdens among individuals with metabolic syndrome. The findings suggested that potential intervention should pay special attention to increasing knowledge in metabolic syndrome, imparting skills of physical activity, offering a supportive environment, and providing suggestions on regular physical activity using the appropriate behavior change techniques. A feasibility study will be undertaken to assess the acceptability and effectiveness of the intervention program in the future.

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Using Internet of Things to Reduce Office Workers’ Sedentary Behavior: Intervention Development Applying the Behavior Change Wheel and Human-Centered Design Approach

Cited by 10 publications

References 59 publications

Understanding the Implementation of “Sit Less at Work” Interventions in Three Organisations: A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation

Understanding the Implementation of “Sit Less at Work” Interventions in Three Organisations: A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation

Feasibility and Acceptability of an Internet of Things–Enabled Sedentary Behavior Intervention: Mixed Methods Study

Development of a behavior change intervention to improve physical activity adherence in individuals with metabolic syndrome using the behavior change wheel

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