'I just didn't find time to exercise': Co-designed physical activity resources for young Australian shiftworkers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Shift work presents unique health challenges, particularly for young adults navigating transitional life stages.
• Barriers to physical activity are common among shiftworkers, potentially increasing unhealthy behaviors.
• Tailored interventions are needed to support the health and wellbeing of young shiftworkers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-design evidence-based physical activity resources specifically for young shiftworkers.
• To identify key physical activity topics and effective communication strategies for this population.
• To develop a scalable and practical tool promoting physical activity and wellbeing.

Main Methods:

• A participatory co-design approach involving 48 diverse stakeholders, including young shiftworkers.
• Eight online workshops were conducted to gather insights and inform resource development.
• Thematic analysis of workshop data identified key themes for resource content and framing.

Main Results:

• Five major themes emerged: physical activity basics, impacts of inactivity, shiftworker-specific activities, strategies, and workplace recommendations.
• A public-facing website was developed featuring tailored, evidence-based physical activity resources.
• A motivational and positive framing was identified as crucial for engagement and behavior change.

Conclusions:

• Co-designed resources offer a practical solution to promote physical activity among young shiftworkers.
• The developed website provides context-relevant information to support health and wellbeing.
• Further research is recommended to evaluate resource effectiveness and long-term behavioral outcomes.