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A Brief Self-Directed Intervention to Reduce Office Employees' Sedentary Behavior in a Flexible Workplace
Heidi M Olsen1, Wendy J Brown, Tracy Kolbe-Alexander
1School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia (Ms Olsen and Dr Burton); Centre for Research in Exercise, Physical Activity and Health, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia (Ms Olsen, Dr Brown, Dr Kolbe-Alexander, and Dr Burton); School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Queensland, Australia (Dr Kolbe-Alexander).
Objective:
The aim of the study was to assess changes in employees' sedentary behavior after a brief self-directed intervention in a flexible workplace.
Methods:
A total of 30 employees (69% female; 39.5 ± 9 years) completed an online questionnaire before and after a 6-week intervention. The intervention comprised one group-based action planning session, using a smart activity tracker for self-monitoring, weekly email reminders, and a healthy living seminar.
Results:
Total self-reported sitting time (including occupational and nonoccupational sitting) decreased nonsignificantly on days when working at the office (MΔ = -56 min/d, 95% confidence interval [CI], -128.5 to 17.0) and increased nonsignificantly when working at home (MΔ = 20.5 min/d, 95% CI, -64.5 to 105.5). The program had high acceptability in this participant group.
Conclusions:
Brief self-directed interventions using activity tracker devices show promise and may be highly acceptable in a flexible workplace. Additional strategies may be needed to create change in sedentary behavior.