Workplace Inactivity
Conditions
Brief summary
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
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.
Interventions
Sponsors
Sheffield Hallam University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. age 18 to 65 years, 2. working ≥0.6 full time equivalents, 3. access to a work telephone and desktop computer with internet, 4. not pregnant, 5. no planned absence \>1 week during the trial, 6. not chair-bound or uniquely impaired such that reducing occupational sitting time was not feasible, 7. no pre-existing musculoskeletal disorder.
Exclusion criteria
\-
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Workplace Sedentary Time | Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations | The amount of time a participant spends sitting whilst in the workplace (minutes). This was measured using a thigh-worn ActivPAL accelerometer. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Workplace Absenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations | 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. |
| Change in Workplace Presenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations | 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. |
Participant flow
Recruitment details
Office-based workplace (UK)
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Height-adjustable Workstation Participants received a height-adjustable workstation for four weeks
Height-adjustable workstation | 22 |
| Control | 9 |
| Total | 31 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Control | Height-adjustable Workstation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 9 Participants | 22 Participants | 31 Participants |
| Age, Continuous | 37 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.26 | 46 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.3 | 43.38 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.42 |
| Region of Enrollment United Kingdom | 9 Participants | 22 Participants | 31 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 7 Participants | 12 Participants | 19 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 2 Participants | 10 Participants | 12 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 22 | 0 / 9 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 22 | 0 / 9 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 22 | 0 / 9 |
Outcome results
Primary
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.
Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height-adjustable Workstation | Change in Workplace Sedentary Time | Baseline | 369 Minutes | Standard Deviation 43.75 |
| Height-adjustable Workstation | Change in Workplace Sedentary Time | 4-Weeks after installation | 229 Minutes | Standard Deviation 46.35 |
| Control | Change in Workplace Sedentary Time | Baseline | 355 Minutes | Standard Deviation 73.69 |
| Control | Change in Workplace Sedentary Time | 4-Weeks after installation | 338 Minutes | Standard Deviation 70.4 |
Secondary
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.
Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height-adjustable Workstation | Change in Workplace Absenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | Baseline Absenteeism | -4 Hours worked in last 7-days |
| Height-adjustable Workstation | Change in Workplace Absenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | 4-Week Absenteeism | 0 Hours worked in last 7-days |
| Control | Change in Workplace Absenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | Baseline Absenteeism | -8 Hours worked in last 7-days |
| Control | Change in Workplace Absenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | 4-Week Absenteeism | 0 Hours worked in last 7-days |
Secondary
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.
Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks after installation of height-adjustable workstations
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height-adjustable Workstation | Change in Workplace Presenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | Baseline Presenteeism | 80 Percentage of job able to perform |
| Height-adjustable Workstation | Change in Workplace Presenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | 4-Week Presenteeism | 80 Percentage of job able to perform |
| Control | Change in Workplace Presenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | Baseline Presenteeism | 80 Percentage of job able to perform |
| Control | Change in Workplace Presenteeism Using the World Health Organisation Health and Work Performance Questionnaire | 4-Week Presenteeism | 90 Percentage of job able to perform |