Project Energise: Using participatory approaches and real time computer prompts to reduce occupational sitting and increase work time physical activity in office workers. Issue 11 (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gilson, Nicholas D.; Ng, Norman; Pavey, Toby G.; Ryde, Gemma C.; Straker, Leon; Brown, Wendy J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of science and medicine in sport. Volume 19:Issue 11(2016)
• Page Start: 926
• Page End: 930
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Office workers -- Occupational sitting -- Physical activity -- Computer prompts; Sports sciences -- Periodicals; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- physiology -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Sportgeneeskunde; 617.102705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.01.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-2440

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: This efficacy study assessed the added impact real time computer prompts had on a participatory approach to reduce occupational sedentary exposure and increase physical activity. Design: Quasi-experimental. Methods: 57 Australian office workers (mean [SD]; age = 47 [11] years; BMI = 28 [5] kg/m 2 ; 46 men) generated a menu of 20 occupational 'sit less and move more' strategies through participatory workshops, and were then tasked with implementing strategies for five months (July–November 2014). During implementation, a sub-sample of workers ( n = 24) used a chair sensor/software package (Sitting Pad) that gave real time prompts to interrupt desk sitting. Baseline and intervention sedentary behaviour and physical activity (GENEActiv accelerometer; mean work time percentages), and minutes spent sitting at desks (Sitting Pad; mean total time and longest bout) were compared between non-prompt and prompt workers using a two-way ANOVA. Results: Workers spent close to three quarters of their work time sedentary, mostly sitting at desks (mean [SD]; total desk sitting time = 371 [71] min/day; longest bout spent desk sitting = 104 [43] min/day). Intervention effects were four times greater in workers who used real time computer prompts (8% decrease in work time sedentary behaviour and increase in light intensity physical activity; p < 0.01). Respective mean differences between baseline and intervention total time spent sitting at desks, and the longest bout spent desk sitting, were 23 and 32 min/day lower in prompt than in non-prompt workers ( p < 0.01). Conclusions: In this sample of office workers, real time computer prompts facilitated the impact of a participatory approach on reductions in occupational sedentary exposure, and increases in physical activity.