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The Effect of Breaking up Sitting in the Workplace on Cardiometabolic Risk and Worker Productivity

Pilot Study of a Tailored Intervention to Break up Sitting in the Workplace on Cardiometabolic Risk and Worker Productivity

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03560544
Enrollment
46
Registered
2018-06-18
Start date
2018-06-25
Completion date
2018-12-31
Last updated
2018-10-10

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

Conditions

Sedentary Lifestyle

Brief summary

This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will examine the effect of a tailored workplace intervention based on interrupting sitting on work productivity, well-being and cardio-metabolic risk in office workers. The experimental group in the 8-week intervention will be prompted to alternate between sitting and standing while working. The ratio between sitting and standing will begin at 3:1 (two hours per day in an eight-hour day) and increase to 1:1 (four hours per day in an eight-hour day) by the end of the second week of the eight-week intervention.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALBreaking up sitting

A three-part behaviour change intervention, including: 1. Supportive organisational culture and knowledge of consequence of prolonged sitting 2. Environmental Modification 3. Behavioural Changes

Sponsors

University of Bedfordshire
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Full-time office employees from any ethnic background, PC/Android phone users, and recruited from two different work sites.

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnancy * History of musculoskeletal complaint * Non-ambulatory * Having a planned holiday that would mean they would not be at work for more than two weeks during the 8-week intervention period.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in sitting time (objective)Change from baseline sitting time at 8 weeksEvaluation of change in sitting time in the workplace using wearable accelerometers (ActivPAL3; PAL Technologies Ltd., Glasgow, UK). The ActivPAL will be worn on the right thigh.
Change in physical activity level (objective)Change from baseline physical activity level at 8 weeksEvaluation of physical activity time in the workplace using wearable accelerometers (ActivPAL3; PAL Technologies Ltd., Glasgow, UK). The ActivPAL will be worn on the right thigh.
Change in sitting time (subjective)Change from baseline sitting time at 8 weeksThe International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) will be used to provide a subjective measure of sitting. The scale provides a measure of reported sitting time in minutes.
Change in physical activity level (subjective)Change from baseline physical activity level at 8 weeksThe International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) will be used to provide a subjective measure of physical activity level. The scale provides a measure of reported sitting time in minutes for each of three types of physical activity (vigorous, moderate, and walking).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in weightChange from baseline weight at 8 weeksMeasurement of weight
Change in waist circumferenceChange from baseline waist circumference at 8 weeksMeasurement waist circumference
Blood pressureChange from baseline blood pressure at 8 weeksSystolic and diastolic blood pressure on the right arm after resting for at least 10 min in a seated position using an automated blood pressure monitor (Omron HEM705 CP, Omron Healthcare UK Limited, Milton Keynes, UK).
Change in fasting total cholesterolChange from baseline fasting total cholesterol at 8 weeksBlood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of total cholesterol will be made.
Change in fasting high-density lipoproteinChange from baseline fasting high-density lipoprotein at 8 weeksBlood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of high-density lipoprotein will be made.
AbsenteeismChange from baseline absenteeism at 8 weeksParticipants will be asked to respond to questions on the Gaudine and Gregory questionnaire on unsanctioned absence. Self-reported absenteeism will be calculated by adding the number of days reported for all the three questions.
Change in fasting blood glucose levelsChange from baseline fasting blood glucose levels at 8 weeksBlood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of blood glucose levels will be made.
StressChange from baseline stress at 8 weeksCohen Perceived Stress questionnaire will be used to assess perception of stress. It primarily evaluates the unpredictability, uncontrollability and overload of an individual's life.
MoodChange from baseline mood at 8 weeksThe positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) questionnaire is a 20-item self-report measure of both positive and negative affect.
Mental WellbeingChange from baseline mental wellbeing at 8 weeksThe Warwick-Edinburgh Mental well-being Scale will be used to determine whether mental wellbeing changes. This scale has 14 questions, with each question scored from 1-5, giving a total score from 14-70.
Self-efficacyChange from baseline self-efficacy at 8 weeksA generalised four-point Likert scale questionnaire will be used to measure the self-efficacy of the participants.
Change in fasting triglyceridesChange from baseline fasting triglycerides at 8 weeksBlood samples will be collected in capillary tubes after an overnight fast using a finger prick method with lancet. Measures of triglycerides will be made.
PresenteeismChange from baseline presenteeism at 8 weeksPresenteeism will be measured using Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ). The WLQ requires employees to self-report their level of difficulty (or ability) to perform 25 specific job demands in the last 2 weeks. Answers generated for the 25 items will be grouped into four work limitation scales including Time Management; Physical Demands; Mental/Interpersonal and Output Demands. The scores for each subscale range from 0-100%, with 0 equivalent to no limitation and 100 equivalent to complete limitation.
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA)Eight weeksParticipants will be prompted at random four times between 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday to complete a short questionnaire which will only take them 60 seconds to complete whilst in sitting position, standing and /or in walking position to enter their level of productivity.
HeightOnce at baselineMeasurement of height

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026