MIAuSport: a feasibility and acceptability study of a workplace-based physical activity program for hospital...

Physical activity (PA) is a fundamental determinant of health. Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a key role in PA promotion but often face high workloads and organizational barriers limiting their own PA. Workplace programs may provide an opportunity to improve PA levels in this population. This study describes the feasibility and acceptability of MIAuSport, a workplace-based PA program for internal medicine residents in a Swiss University Hospital.

MIAuSport consists of a 40-minute outdoor session held monthly during lunch time hours, offering walking and running options. The program was implemented from February 2024 to January 2025. Attendances were recorded anonymously at each of the 12 sessions. Anonymous post-session and eight-month surveys were used to measure feasibility, acceptability, awareness, penetration, and implementation barriers and facilitators.

Across 12 sessions, 231 attendances were recorded, 79% of which were medical staff. The average number of attendances was 19 per session. Post-session surveys (54% response rate) indicated high acceptability, with 97% of respondents rating the organization as satisfactory, 96% finding the activity beneficial, and 84% reporting feeling motivated to increase their PA. The eight-month survey (66% response rate) showed that 88.6% (31/35) of respondents were aware of the program but only 59.4% (19/32) participated at least once in the PA program, indicating high awareness but moderate penetration. Main barriers included workload, scheduling, and weather.

MIAuSport proved feasible and well received among HCWs, though sustained individual engagement could not be assessed and remains challenging.