Understanding the Implementation of "Sit Less at Work" Interventions in Three Organisations: A Mixed Methods Process...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Prolonged workplace sitting is linked to adverse health outcomes.
• Previous interventions to decrease sedentary behavior at work show inconsistent results.
• Understanding implementation barriers is crucial for effective workplace health promotion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the intervention fidelity of "sit less at work" initiatives.
• To identify barriers and enablers affecting the implementation of these interventions.
• To inform future strategies for reducing workplace sitting time.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods "before and after" study design.
• Online questionnaires, objective sitting time measures (activPAL3™), and focus groups.
• Inclusion of staff participants and intervention implementers from diverse organizations.

Main Results:

• None of the "sit less at work" interventions were implemented with high fidelity.
• No consistent reductions in workplace sitting time were observed across the sites.
• Key barriers included workload, organizational culture, social norms, and lack of management support.

Conclusions:

• Current "sit less at work" interventions face significant implementation challenges.
• Organizational culture and social norms surrounding sitting require substantial shifts.
• Future initiatives necessitate comprehensive, multi-level organizational change for success.