Development of Digital Strategies for Reducing Sedentary Behavior in a Hybrid Office Environment: Modified Delphi...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Hybrid work models are prevalent, leading to increased sedentary behavior among office workers.
• Digital interventions show promise for reducing sedentary time, but evidence for home office settings is limited.
• Developing targeted digital interventions requires input from all stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve expert consensus on feasible work strategies for reducing sedentary behavior in home office settings.
• To identify the most usable digital elements for delivering these strategies.
• To inform the development of effective digital interventions for hybrid and remote workers.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi study involving three survey rounds and focus groups with occupational health experts.
• Work strategies and digital elements were evaluated using Likert scales and ranking lists.
• Reflexive thematic analysis was used for focus group data.

Main Results:

• Consensus was reached on 18 work strategies and 16 digital elements.
• Key feasible strategies include feedback on progress, action planning, and standing breaks.
• Most usable digital elements include activity trackers, combined media, and smartphone apps.
• Multi-level strategies (social, environmental, individual) are crucial for effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Expert consensus provides a basis for developing digital interventions to combat sedentary behavior in home office workers.
• Future interventions should evaluate feasible strategies delivered through usable digital elements in home/hybrid work contexts.