Spontaneous Use of Sit-stand Desks in a Shared Workspace: A Pilot Study

To examine spontaneous sit-stand desk (SSD) use in a shared academic workspace, isolating the environmental effect of availability without behavioral, organizational, or multicomponent strategies.

A 2-month observational study (40 hours) was conducted in a Portuguese university staff room. Two SSDs were accessible without instructions, prompts, or intervention. Episode frequency and standing duration were analyzed by time of day, day-of-week category, and weather; motivations were assessed anonymously.

SSD use was limited yet measurable (26.5% of observation-time-use; 8.3% of potential-users, actually using it), higher on rainy days and later in the week; use-episodes were longer in the morning. Desk placement (visibility and proximity to traffic flow) and layout (unobstructed access) were positively associated with engagement.

Availability alone may encourage postural variation, though complementary behavioral and organizational strategies may be required to increase adoption, particularly among nonusers.