[Evaluation of changes in physical activity among participants in a company-based program]

To analyze the effectiveness of a company-based physical activity program using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) questionnaire.

In March 2014 we implemented a company-based physical activity program (Mueve-T, by its Spanish acronym) with the objective of increasing awareness of physical activity among employees, and measuring improvements in activity level. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, we administered the IPAQ Questionnaire, before the program began in 2014 and two years later, in 2016. Descriptive summary statistics included frequencies, percentages and bar charts. To compare pre- and post-intervention results, we used a logistic repeated measures model, adjusted for two populations, with an ordinal polytomous response for IPAQ (low or inactive, moderate and high), applied to the overall study population and further examined by sex, workplace and job.

A total of 746 participants responded in 2014 and 563 in 2016. Only 314 respondents completed both surveys. In 2014, 35.4% of the respondents reported a low level of activity, moderate was 39.5% and highwas, 25.2%. In 2016, 36.3% reported a low level of activity, moderate was 39.8% and a high level was indicated by 23.9%. Overall, there were no significant differences in physical activity levels between the pre- and post-intervention period, among those who participated in both surveys. Likewise, there were no significant differences when this result was examined by sex, although employees sales or commercial tasks has lower levels of physical activity as compared to other centers or jobs.

The results did not find this intervention program to be effective in increasing levels of physical activity. The differences found among the sales and commercial task employees could have been due to differences in the effect on awareness achieved by companywide information dissemination (e.g., newsletters, talks, intranet notes, etc.) as compared to specific individual activities (e.g., (yoga classes, zumba, cycling, walks, etc.). A longer evaluation period is needed to confirm these findings.