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Trial registered on ANZCTR

Registration number

ACTRN12612000743864

Ethics application status

Approved

Date submitted

9/07/2012

Date registered

12/07/2012

Date last updated

14/04/2016

Type of registration

Retrospectively registered

Titles & IDs

Public title

Can a participatory workplace intervention improve sedentary behaviour and physical activity in office workers?

Scientific title

In office workers, is a participatory workplace intervention focussed on work tasks more effective than participatory workplace interventions focussed on discretionary time or workstation ergonomics in reducing sustained sedentary time and increasing physical activity?

Secondary ID [1]

Nil

Universal Trial Number (UTN)

Trial acronym

Linked study record

Health condition

Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:

Sedentary behaviour

Condition category

Condition code

Public Health

Health promotion/education

Intervention/exposure

Study type

Interventional

Description of intervention(s) / exposure

All participants will be involved in one of three workplace based interventions of 12 weeks duration. Prior to the intervention participants will attend 2 structured workplace meetings each of 45-60 minutes duration with the members of their intervention group. At the first meeting, the participants will be presented with information on the important health implications of office work and discuss potential changes they could make around the focus of their intervention. At the second meeting, approximately 2 weeks after the first meeting, participants will discuss ideas for change, develop the strategies and rate their ease of implementation and likely effect, again with the assistance of a facilitator. Work groups will then be given 4-6 weeks to organise the implementation of their chosen strategies including getting organisational approval. At this point the 12 week intervention period will be deemed to have begun. There will be 2 intervention groups and an 'active' control group which will develop interventions in line with their focus as listed below:

(1) Work task modification focus to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity. For example, provision of an ‘active workstation’ which is an electronic height adjustable desk that is connected to a treadmill or exercise bike enabling participants to ‘walk and work’. Other interventions may include changing default printers to a more distant location or walking to communicate with colleagues rather than emailing - to encourage incidental activity during work tasks in the workplace.

(2) Discretionary time focus to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity. For example walking during work breaks (lunch/coffee) and before and after work. Participants in this group may be provided with a pedometer for use in a ‘steps challenge’. Other interventions may include promotion of active transport, groups exercise classes or lunchtime walking groups.

(3) 'Active' control focussed on office workstation ergonomics review and modification. For example, revision of workstation set up and the introduction to ‘active sitting’, a sitting technique that encourages trunk muscle activity while sitting. Participants may be provided with an ‘air cushion’ that facilitates active sitting.

Intervention code [1]

Prevention

Intervention code [2]

Behaviour

Comparator / control treatment

'Active' control focussed on office workstation ergonomics review and modification. For example, revision of workstation set up and the introduction to ‘active sitting’, a sitting technique that encourages trunk muscle activity while sitting. Participants may be provided with an ‘air cushion’ that facilitates active sitting.

Control group

Active

Outcomes

Primary outcome [1]

Total sedentary time assessed with Actigraph triaxial accelerometer worn at waist level for 7 days. Accelerometry data assesses the duration and intensity of physical activity on work days and weekend days and during work time and outside of work time.

Timepoint [1]