Reducing Sedentary Behaviour in Office Workers

Background Currently, 18.5 percent of all European Union citizens sit more than 7.5 hours per day. It is estimated that approximately one third of white-collar workers spend more than 7.5 hours per day seated. Moreover, it is assumed that working adults sit for up to two thirds of their working time on average, with some office-based occupations (e.g. call center employees) requiring workers to sit for more than 80% of their working day. Although the decline in physical activity helped to reduce physical overload and the accompanying risks, ongoing activity pattern changes are relevant factors in the development of health-related problems. Sedentary and sitting time are both risk factors for several diseases, such as obesity, depression and all-cause mortality. Interestingly, risks of prolonged sitting are independent of physical activity levels.

A possible way to reduce occupational sitting time are sit/stand workstations. Sit-to-stand workstations provide an incentive for people to work in either a sitting or standing posture and facilitate regular sit-to-stand transitions. Despite the global increase in incidence rates, the majority of office workers in Austria are still not provided with this kind of workstation because of concerns about utilization rates.

Aim The primary aim of this observational study is to investigate the mid-term effect (1 year) of sit/stand workstations on occupational sitting and standing time as well as the prevalence and intensity of neck and back pain. Secondary aims are the short- and mid-term effects of sit/stand workstations on weekly physical activity as well as daily and weekly sitting and standing time. Furthermore, their effect on the prevalence and intensity of shoulder pain should be analysed. Lastly, predictors for postural changes at work (between sitting and standing) as well as correlates between the IPAQ and OSPAQ questionnaire for office workers should be determinated.

Intervention All employees of an Austrian bank headquarter will be newly equipped with sit/stand workstations by their own company. Prior to this furniture change, all employees were equipped with traditional sit workstations. The study uses the company induced furniture change for scientific purposes. Hence, the furniture change was not driven by the research institution (university).

Methods Within this study 4 assessment days will be executed. They will be carried out 2 weeks before (baseline) and 3, 6 and 12 months after the furniture change. On each assessment day an online survey will be applied. This survey consists of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ), the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and well as questions addressing participants´ characteristics.

Inclusion criteria

• All office workers from a bank headquarter who are affected by the office furniture change (replacement of traditional sitting work desks by sit/stand workstations)
• People with sufficient German language skills (able to understand the questions of the questionnaires)
• People who gave their written consent to participate prior to involvement in the study

Exclusion criteria

• People without an employment at the examined bank headquarter
• People who are not able to use sit/stand workstations due to physical impairments
• People on educational or maternity leave