Increasing stair use in an office worksite through an interactive environmental intervention

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Promoting physical activity is crucial for employee well-being.
• Traditional interventions often lack engaging elements.
• Environmental modifications can influence health behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an interactive environmental intervention on stair usage.
• To assess the effectiveness of visual and interactive elements in promoting stair use.
• To compare stair usage changes in an intervention group versus a control group.

Main Methods:

• A nonrandomized, quasi-experimental study was conducted in two three-story office buildings.
• Interactive elements like maps and storyboards were added to the intervention stairwell.
• Stair and elevator usage were tracked using electronic sensors over an 8-week period.

Main Results:

• Stair usage at the intervention site increased from 31.5% to 66.2% during the 6-week intervention.
• The incidence rate ratio for stair users associated with the intervention was 2.57.
• No significant change in stair usage was observed at the comparison site.

Conclusions:

• Interactive environmental interventions can significantly increase stair usage in office settings.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for promoting physical activity.
• Sustained increases in stair use were observed over the 6-week intervention period.