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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05790837

Workplace Intervention to Reduce Sitting Time: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to determine the effect of the computer prompt to break sitting time in office workers.

The main question is: What is the effect of the computer prompt "Stand Up for Your Health®" plus education on sitting time, musculoskeletal symptoms, cardiometabolic markers, and physical activity in office workers compared with only education? In addition, to determine the level of adherence to the intervention program by identifying barriers and facilitators referred by the participants.

The participants will be divided into two groups, the experimental and the control group. The participants in the experimental group will use the computer prompt on their desktop and receive information about sedentary behaviour, and the control group will receive only information. All participants will wear accelerometers for one week. The musculoskeletal symptoms and cardiometabolic markers will be measured at baseline, 3rd and 6th month.

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Key information

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior Behavior Motor Activity Office Workers

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Universidad Autónoma de Chile

Santiago, Chile

About this study

Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity are risk factors for noncommunicable diseases related to the work environment. The accumulation of sitting time during the workday is related to musculoskeletal symptoms and worse cardiometabolic indicators.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the "Stand up for your Health®" computer app on sitting time, musculoskeletal symptoms, cardiometabolic markers, and physical activity in office workers. Also, to determine the adherence to the intervention program by identifying barriers and facilitators referred by the participants.

In this 2-arm randomized controlled trial, both groups will be recruited from educational establishments and will be measured at baseline, 3rd, and 6th months. The experimental group will be implementing the "Stand Up for Your Health®" computer app plus educational information, while the control group will only receive educational information.

The same measurements will be completed in both groups during a 6 months follow-up period: sedentary behaviour using the Actigraph accelerometers and the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ); musculoskeletal symptoms will be assessed by a pressure pain algometer and the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire of Perception of musculoskeletal Symptoms; and cardiometabolic markers and anthropometric measurements will also be assessed according to protocol.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • office workers over 18 years of age,
  • Full-time employees (≥35 hours per week);
  • Spend most of their workday sitting (> 60%). This will be initially self-reported and used as selection criteria prior to the initial consent and measurement visit. This will be later confirmed using accelerometers;
  • Work in the same office place during the week; and
  • Able to walk without using an assistive device or requiring the assistance of another person.

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant women;
  • Desktop workers using a height-adjustable workstation; and
  • Office workers sufficiently active according to WHO criteria.

Treatment and study plan

Computer prompt "Stand up for your Health®"

Behavioral

The intervention group consists on the implementation of a desktop application "Stand up for your Health®" computer prompt following the model proposed by the Guide to Physical Activity at Work (34). This app works by showing reminders and asking users to pause their work activity and take an active break. Pauses can be customized and programmed according to the user's preference, allowing control of the time of each pause, between pauses, and the possibility of delaying or interrupting the pause. In this study, the "Stand up for your Health®" app will be scheduled to appear every 60 minutes on the workers' computers and each break will last for 2 minutes. During this resting period, the worker will see a notice or reminder on their screen with a countdown clock. The application allows you to postpone or interrupt directions.

Primary outcomes

  1. Sedentary behaviour (occupational sitting time) at baseline

    Time frame: During 1 week at T0 (baseline)

    Sedentary behaviour will be objectively assessed using accelerometers Actigraph GT3X per a period of one week. Data will be downloaded and analyzed with ActiLife software.

    Occupational sitting time shall be measured subjectively using the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ).

  2. Sedentary behaviour (occupational sitting time) at 3rd month

    Time frame: During 1 week at T1 (3rd month)

    Sedentary behaviour will be objectively assessed using accelerometers Actigraph GT3X per a period of one week. Data will be downloaded and analyzed with ActiLife software.

    Occupational sitting time shall be measured subjectively using the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ).

  3. Sedentary behaviour (occupational sitting time) at 6th month

    Time frame: During 1 week at T2 (6th month)

    Sedentary behaviour will be objectively assessed using accelerometers Actigraph GT3X per a period of one week. Data will be downloaded and analyzed with ActiLife software.

    Occupational sitting time shall be measured subjectively using the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Cardiometabolic biomarkers - Fasting blood glucose

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Cardiometabolic health outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Measurements of fasting blood glucose in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) will be collected in blood samples on an empty stomach in the workplace by a trained and certified health professional.

  2. Cardiometabolic biomarkers - Fasting insulin

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Cardiometabolic health outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Measurements of fasting insulin in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) will be collected in blood samples on an empty stomach in the workplace by a trained and certified health professional.

  3. Cardiometabolic biomarkers - Cortisol

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Cardiometabolic health outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Measurements of cortisol in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL)will be collected in blood samples on an empty stomach in the workplace by a trained and certified health professional.

  4. Cardiometabolic biomarkers - Triglycerides

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Cardiometabolic health outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Measurements of triglycerides in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) will be collected in blood samples on an empty stomach in the workplace by a trained and certified health professional.

  5. Cardiometabolic biomarkers - Total cholesterol

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Cardiometabolic health outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Measurements of total cholesterol in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) will be collected in blood sample on an empty stomach in the workplace by a trained and certified health professional.

  6. Cardiometabolic biomarkers - Low density lipoprotein cholesterol

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Cardiometabolic health outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Measurements of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol will be collected in a blood sample on an empty stomach in the workplace by a trained and certified health professional.

  7. Cardiometabolic biomarkers - High density lipoprotein cholesterol

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Cardiometabolic health outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Measurements of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol will be collected in a blood sample on an empty stomach in the workplace by a trained and certified health professional.

    Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure will be assessed in all participants.

  8. Anthropometric measurements - Height

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Anthropometric measurements outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Height in meters (m) will be measured using an altimeter.

  9. Anthropometric measurements - Weight

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Anthropometric measurements outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Weight in kilograms (kg) will be measured using a digital scale.

  10. Anthropometric measurements - Waist Circumference

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Anthropometric measurements outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Waist Circumference in centimeters (cm) will be measured using a tape measure.

  11. Anthropometric measurements - Body Mass Index

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    Anthropometric measurements outcomes will be carried out following the standardized protocol in this study population. Body Mass Index (BMI) in kilograms per square meters (kg/m2) will be calculated using the weight and height outcome measures.

  12. Musculoskeletal symptoms - Pain

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    A pressure pain threshold algometer shall be used as an objective measurement and will provide a quantitative measurement of sensory perception of mechanical stimuli in kilopascal (kPa) units.

  13. Musculoskeletal symptoms - Symptoms

    Time frame: At T0 (baseline), T1 (3rd month) and T2 (6th month)

    The standardized Nordic Questionnaire of perception of musculoskeletal symptoms will be used as a subjective measurement, providing a numerical pain scale.

    All measurements will be performed by a physiotherapist and following a standardized measurement procedure for office workers

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad del Desarrollo

Other

Collaborators

  • Superintendencia de Seguridad Social - Gobierno de Chile

Registry information

Official study title

Workplace Intervention to Reduce Sitting Time, Decrease Musculoskeletal Symptoms, and Improve Cardiometabolic Markers in Sedentary Office Workers: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Mar 30, 2023
Registry last updated
May 15, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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