Exercise Training During Working Hours at a Hospital Department: A Pilot Study
Stig Molsted1, Just Bendix Justesen, Sofie Fønsskov Møller
1From the Department of Clinical Research, Nordsjællands University Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark (Dr Molsted, Ms Møller, Ms Særvoll, Ms Fischer); Department of Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark (Dr Molsted, Dr Lindegaard); Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Research Unit of Physical Activity and Health in Working Life, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (Dr Justesen, Dr Dalager); Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark (Dr Krogh-Madsen); Centre for Physical Activity Research, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark (Dr Krogh-Madsen, Ms Pedersen, Dr Lindegaard); Department of Public Health, University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark (Ms Fischer); and Department of Pulmonary and Infectious Disease, Nordsjællands University Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark (Dr Lindegaard).
Objectives:
This pilot study tested the use of an exercise offer to hospital employees during working hours and changes in work and health parameters.
Methods:
Employees (n = 214) from a medical department on a Danish hospital were invited to 30 minutes' exercise training twice weekly for 12 weeks. Outcomes included health- and work-related parameters.
Results:
Eighty employees (mean age, 44.4 [SD, 10.7] years; 81.3% women) completed the study. Intervention adherence was 36.3% (SD, 25.1%). Aerobic capacity increased from 34.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 32.3 to 36.9) to 36.7 (95% CI, 34.1 to 39.4) mL O 2 /min per kilogram, P = 0.004. Blood pressure decreased from 120 (95% CI, 117 to 123)/79 (95% CI, 76 to 81) to 116 (95% CI, 112 to 120)/76 (95% CI, 74 to 79) mm Hg, P = 0.003. Waist circumference and musculoskeletal pain decreased. Well-being, social capital, and quality of life increased.
Conclusions:
Despite low training adherence, completers improved outcomes related to metabolic and self-rated health.
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