Development of a Blended Physical Activity Intervention for Office Employees Using Intervention Mapping: Intervention
Yan Sun1,2, Alison Yt Ou3, Tony Lei Shi4
1Academy of Wellness and Human Development, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).
JMIR Human Factors
|July 14, 2026
Summary
A new blended intervention using the Intervention Mapping framework helps office employees increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This program aims to improve health and productivity by addressing barriers to physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Health Promotion
Background:
- Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, causing millions of deaths annually.
- Office employees are particularly susceptible to low physical activity due to sedentary work, negatively impacting health and productivity.
- The COVID-19 pandemic worsened physical inactivity levels, highlighting the need for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design an evidence-based, blended intervention to enhance moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), health, and productivity in office employees.
- To utilize the Intervention Mapping (IM) framework for a systematic and theory-informed intervention development process.
Main Methods:
- Employed the first four steps of the IM framework to develop a 12-week blended intervention and a supporting website.
- Conducted needs assessment via literature review and focus groups (n=12) to identify MVPA barriers and facilitators.
- Integrated behavior change techniques (e.g., goal setting, self-monitoring) within a 3-group randomized controlled trial design (blended, web-only, active control).
Main Results:
- Pilot testing confirmed the intervention's acceptability, feasibility, and adaptability.
- Participants reported increased motivation, better understanding of MVPA benefits, and enhanced self-regulation skills.
- Refinements based on feedback improved website usability and content interactivity.
Conclusions:
- The Intervention Mapping framework provided a structured approach for developing a tailored MVPA intervention for office workers.
- Emphasizes the value of theory-driven, stakeholder-informed strategies for scalable health promotion.
- The intervention shows potential for addressing physical inactivity in office settings and can serve as a model for future behavior change programs.
