You are viewing a javascript disabled version of the site. Please enable Javascript for this site to function properly.
Go to headerGo to navigationGo to searchGo to contentsGo to footer
In content section. Select this link to jump to navigation

An e-health intervention designed to increase workday energy expenditure by reducing prolonged occupational sitting habits

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Pedersen, Scott J. | Cooley, Paul D. | Mainsbridge, Casey

Affiliations: University of Tasmania, Newnham Campus, Launceston, Australia

Note: [] Corresponding author: Scott J. Pedersen, University of Tasmania, Newnham Campus, Locked Bag 1330, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia. Tel.: +61 3 6324 3554; Fax: +61 3 6324 3679; E-mail: [email protected]

Keywords: Workplace health and wellbeing, sedentary behavior, employee health, physical activity, prompts

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-131644

Journal: Work, vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 289-295, 2014

Received 13 November 2012
|
Accepted 14 March 2013
|
Published: 2014
Get PDF open access

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Desk-based employees face multiple workplace health hazards such as insufficient physical activity and prolonged sitting.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to increase workday energy expenditure by interrupting prolonged occupational sitting time and introducing short-bursts of physical activity to employees' daily work habits.

METHODS: Over a 13-week period participants (n=17) in the intervention group were regularly exposed to a passive prompt delivered through their desktop computer that required them to stand up and engage in a short-burst of physical activity, while the control group (n=17) was not exposed to this intervention. Instead, the control group continued with their normal work routine. All participants completed a pre- and post- intervention survey to estimate workplace daily energy expenditure (calories).

RESULTS: There was a significant 2 (Group) × 2 (Test) interaction, F (1, 32)=9.26, p < 0.05. The intervention group increased the calories expended during the workday from pre-test (M=866.29 ± 151.40) to post-test (M=1054.10 ± 393.24), whereas the control group decreased calories expended during the workday from pre-test (M=982.55 ± 315.66) to post-test (M=892.21 ± 255.36).

CONCLUSIONS: An e-health intervention using a passive prompt was an effective mechanism for increasing employee work-related energy expenditure. Engaging employees in regular short-bursts of physical activity during the workday resulted in reduced sitting time, which may have long-term effects on the improvement of employee health.

Show more