Yan Sun1, Aiwei Wang1, Siyue Yu2, Martin S Hagger3, Xiangyan Chen4, Shirley Siu Ming Fong5,6, Chunqing Zhang1, Wendy Yajun Huang1, Julien S Baker1, Frédéric Dutheil7, Yang Gao8. 1. Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China. 2. JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. 3. Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA, USA. 4. Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. 5. Department of Health and Physical Education, Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. 6. School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. 7. LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Preventive and Occupational Medicine, Witty Fit, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 8. Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China. gaoyang@hkbu.edu.hk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Regular participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is related to decreased risk of morbidity and mortality. Among working populations, lack of MVPA may also be a risk factor for absenteeism and presenteeism. Both traditional workplace-based and web-based interventions have been suggested as being effective in promoting participation MVPA, health-related outcomes, and work-related productivity. However, several challenges limit their application in real world contexts. A 'blended' intervention approach combining the two intervention strategies is proposed to overcome these limitations. The proposed intervention aims to utilize the blended approach to increase participation in MVPA, health-related outcomes, and work productivity among inactive workers. METHODS: The study will comprise of a three-group cluster randomized controlled trial (cluster-RCT), comprising a three-month actual intervention and a nine-month behavioral follow-up period. The three groups will be: a web-based intervention group, a blended intervention group combining the web-based components with face-to-face workshops and posters, and a control group. Physically inactive office employees (N = 495) from 33 companies (i.e., clusters) will be recruited and randomly assigned to the three groups by cluster randomization. The intervention mapping (IM) framework will be used for selecting and applying effective health behavioral theories and behavioral change techniques (BCTs) to the development, implementation and assessment of the intervention, which will be personally tailored. The primary outcome variable will be objectively-measured MVPA using an accelerometer. Secondary outcomes will consist of indices of health including adiposity, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, self-reported depression, anxiety, stress, health-related quality of life and work-related variables including absenteeism and presenteeism. DISCUSSION: The proposed study adopts a robust blended intervention approach that is expected to overcome challenges in applying workplace-based and web-based interventions separately and yield larger effects in promoting MVPA participation, health-related outcomes and work productivity. Improvements in work productivity outcomes will be of particular interest to employers. If more effective, the new blended intervention has the potential to be implemented on a larger scale to benefit workplace populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is prospectively registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov PRS (Trial ID: NCT04391270; Date of First Posted: May 18, 2020).
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Regular participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is related to decreased risk of morbidity and mortality. Among working populations, lack of MVPA may also be a risk factor for absenteeism and presenteeism. Both traditional workplace-based and web-based interventions have been suggested as being effective in promoting participation MVPA, health-related outcomes, and work-related productivity. However, several challenges limit their application in real world contexts. A 'blended' intervention approach combining the two intervention strategies is proposed to overcome these limitations. The proposed intervention aims to utilize the blended approach to increase participation in MVPA, health-related outcomes, and work productivity among inactive workers. METHODS: The study will comprise of a three-group cluster randomized controlled trial (cluster-RCT), comprising a three-month actual intervention and a nine-month behavioral follow-up period. The three groups will be: a web-based intervention group, a blended intervention group combining the web-based components with face-to-face workshops and posters, and a control group. Physically inactive office employees (N = 495) from 33 companies (i.e., clusters) will be recruited and randomly assigned to the three groups by cluster randomization. The intervention mapping (IM) framework will be used for selecting and applying effective health behavioral theories and behavioral change techniques (BCTs) to the development, implementation and assessment of the intervention, which will be personally tailored. The primary outcome variable will be objectively-measured MVPA using an accelerometer. Secondary outcomes will consist of indices of health including adiposity, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, self-reported depression, anxiety, stress, health-related quality of life and work-related variables including absenteeism and presenteeism. DISCUSSION: The proposed study adopts a robust blended intervention approach that is expected to overcome challenges in applying workplace-based and web-based interventions separately and yield larger effects in promoting MVPA participation, health-related outcomes and work productivity. Improvements in work productivity outcomes will be of particular interest to employers. If more effective, the new blended intervention has the potential to be implemented on a larger scale to benefit workplace populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is prospectively registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov PRS (Trial ID: NCT04391270; Date of First Posted: May 18, 2020).
Entities:
Keywords:
Blended intervention; Health promotion; Office employees; Physical activity; Web-based intervention; Work productivity
Authors: Nicole T M Hill; Eleanor Bailey; Ruth Benson; Grace Cully; Olivia J Kirtley; Rosemary Purcell; Simon Rice; Jo Robinson; Courtney C Walton Journal: BMC Psychol Date: 2022-02-01