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Efficacy of a Combined Ergonomic Health Promotion Intervention on Employee Health

Efficacy of a Combined Ergonomic Health Promotion Intervention on Employee Health

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02071420
Enrollment
60
Registered
2014-02-25
Start date
2014-01-31
Completion date
2014-07-31
Last updated
2017-10-23

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Overweight, Sedentary

Brief summary

Our objective in this pilot study is to test the combined effect of a) replacing office workers' sedentary workstations with active workstations (LifeBalance Station) and b) optimizing computer workstation ergonomics on daily occupational sedentary time, cardiometabolic risk factors, musculoskeletal symptom health outcomes and work productivity.

Detailed description

Primary Aim: To compare the effects of providing sedentary employees with seated active workstations in combination with an ergonomic intervention and regular motivational emails (experimental group) against the ergonomic intervention and regular emails only (active control group) on occupational sedentary behavior over 16 weeks. Hypothesis: The addition of a seated active workstation will result in significant reductions in daily occupational sedentary time compared to the active control group. Secondary Aims: To compare the effects of the experimental group against the active control group on secondary measures of cardiometabolic disease risk factors, musculoskeletal discomfort, cognitive function and work productivity. Hypothesis 1: The experimental group will result in reduced cardiometabolic disease risk, musculoskeletal discomfort and work limitations compared to the active control group.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALActive Workstation Intervention

Participants in the experimental group will receive a seated active workstation at their work setting for 16 weeks.

Participants of both arms will receive a face to face ergonomic workstation optimization intervention. This consultation will take 30 minutes to complete and will be performed at the participant's actual work station.

BEHAVIORALEmail Intervention

Participants of both arms will receive three emails per week for 16 weeks. Messages will be consistent with what they hear in the ergonomic intervention (e.g., encourage taking breaks from sitting at work and adjusting posture to be in line with ergonomic principles).

DEVICEBluetooth enabled device (Wahoo Fitness Blue SC sensor) and accompanying iPod application.

Sponsors

University of Iowa
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* We will recruit overweight/obese (body mass index 25.0-40.0 kg/m2) adults (18-65 years) working in full-time (minimum 35 hours/week), sedentary (self-report sitting \>75% work time) occupations at an independent work site.

Exclusion criteria

* Working in an office that will not meet the space or electrical requirements of the active workstation, acute or chronic illness not under treatment of a provider, orthopedic limitations that prohibit physical activity, current or planned pregnancy, hospitalization from a physical or mental disorder in the past six months and/or taking medication that may impair physical activity

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Occupational Physical Activity From Baseline to 16 WeeksBaseline and 16 weeksOccupational physical activity (primary outcome) will be measured objectively with the GENEActiv physical activity monitor. The monitor will be worn on the right ankle and will be worn for 5 working days during all non-bathing hours. The outcome measure will be change in occupational activity (average counts/work day) from baseline to 16 weeks. The measure will be calculated as follows: 16 weeks value - baseline value.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Experimental Group
This group will receive the seated active workstation intervention, the ergonomic intervention and the email intervention for 16 weeks. Active Workstation Intervention: Participants in the experimental group will receive a seated active workstation at their work setting for 16 weeks. Ergonomic Intervention: Participants of both arms will receive a face to face ergonomic workstation optimization intervention. This consultation will take 30 minutes to complete and will be performed at the participant's actual work station. Email Intervention: Participants of both arms will receive three emails per week for 16 weeks. Messages will be consistent with what they hear in the ergonomic intervention (e.g., encourage taking breaks from sitting at work and adjusting posture to be in line with ergonomic principles). Bluetooth enabled device (Wahoo Fitness Blue SC sensor) and accompanying iPod application.
30
Active Control
This group will receive the ergonomic intervention and email intervention only for 16 weeks. This group will not receive a seated active workstation. Ergonomic Intervention: Participants of both arms will receive a face to face ergonomic workstation optimization intervention. This consultation will take 30 minutes to complete and will be performed at the participant's actual work station. Email Intervention: Participants of both arms will receive three emails per week for 16 weeks. Messages will be consistent with what they hear in the ergonomic intervention (e.g., encourage taking breaks from sitting at work and adjusting posture to be in line with ergonomic principles). Bluetooth enabled device (Wahoo Fitness Blue SC sensor) and accompanying iPod application.
30
Total60

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicActive ControlExperimental GroupTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
30 Participants30 Participants60 Participants
Age, Continuous45.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.7
45.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.9
45.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.8
Region of Enrollment
United States
30 participants30 participants60 participants
Sex/Gender, Customized
Female
21 participants21 participants42 participants
Sex/Gender, Customized
Male
9 participants9 participants18 participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 300 / 30
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 300 / 30

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Occupational Physical Activity From Baseline to 16 Weeks

Occupational physical activity (primary outcome) will be measured objectively with the GENEActiv physical activity monitor. The monitor will be worn on the right ankle and will be worn for 5 working days during all non-bathing hours. The outcome measure will be change in occupational activity (average counts/work day) from baseline to 16 weeks. The measure will be calculated as follows: 16 weeks value - baseline value.

Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Experimental GroupChange in Occupational Physical Activity From Baseline to 16 Weeks9752 Average counts/work day
Active ControlChange in Occupational Physical Activity From Baseline to 16 Weeks-142 Average counts/work day

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 15, 2026