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Evaluation of a natural workspace intervention with active design features on movement, interaction and health
Fehmidah Munir1,2, Joanna Yarker3, Jennifer Duckworth1
1School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
Background:
There is increasing focus on designing workspaces that promote less sitting, more movement and interaction to improve physical and mental health.
Objective:
This study evaluates a natural intervention of a new workplace with active design features and its relocation to a greener and open space.
Methods:
An ecological model was used to understand how organisations implement change. Pre and post survey data from 221 matched cases of workers and accelerometery data (n = 50) were analysed.
Results:
Results show a decrease in occupational sitting (-20.65 mins/workday, p = 0.001) and an increase in workplace walking (+5.61 mins/workday, p = 0.001) using survey data, and accelerometery data (occupational sitting time: -31.0 mins/workday, p = 0.035, standing time: +22.0 mins/workday, p = 0.022, stepping time: +11.0 mins/workday, p = 0.001). Improvements in interaction, musculoskeletal pain and mental health were reported.
Conclusions:
Application of the ecological model shows that the organisation understands how to target the built environment and social/cultural environment but not how to target behaviour change at the individual level.
