Does an 'activity-permissive' workplace change office workers' sitting and activity time?
Journal article
Gorman, Erin, Ashe, Maureen, Dunstan, David, Hanson, Heather, Madden, Ken, Winkler, Elisabeth, McKay, Heather and Healy, Genevieve. (2013). Does an 'activity-permissive' workplace change office workers' sitting and activity time? PLoS One (online). 8(10), pp. 1 - 6. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076723
Authors | Gorman, Erin, Ashe, Maureen, Dunstan, David, Hanson, Heather, Madden, Ken, Winkler, Elisabeth, McKay, Heather and Healy, Genevieve |
---|---|
Abstract | Introduction: To describe changes in workplace physical activity, and health-, and work-related outcomes, in workers who transitioned from a conventional to an ‘activity-permissive’ workplace. Methods: A natural pre-post experiment conducted in Vancouver, Canada in 2011. A convenience sample of office-based workers (n=24, 75% women, mean [SD] age = 34.5 [8.1] years) were examined four months following relocation from a conventional workplace (pre) to a newly-constructed, purpose-built, movement-oriented physical environment (post). Workplace activity- (activPAL3-derived stepping, standing, and sitting time), health- (body composition and fasting cardio-metabolic blood profile), and work- (performance; job satisfaction) related outcomes were measured pre- and post-move and compared using paired t-tests. Results: Pre-move, on average (mean [SD]) the majority of the day was spent sitting (364 [43.0] mins/8-hr workday), followed by standing (78.2 [32.1] mins/8-hr workday) and stepping (37.7 [15.6] mins/8-hr workday). The transition to the ‘activity-permissive’ workplace resulted in a significant increase in standing time (+18.5, 95% CI: 1.8, 35.2 mins/8-hr workday), likely driven by reduced sitting time (-19.7, 95% CI: -42.1, 2.8 mins/8-hr workday) rather than increased stepping time (+1.2, 95% CI: -6.2, 8.5 mins/8-hr workday). There were no statistically significant differences observed in health- or work-related outcomes. Discussion: This novel, opportunistic study demonstrated that the broader workplace physical environment can beneficially impact on standing time in office workers. The long-term health and work-related benefits, and the influence of individual, organizational, and social factors on this change, requires further evaluation. |
Year | 2013 |
Journal | PLoS One (online) |
Journal citation | 8 (10), pp. 1 - 6 |
ISSN | 1932-6203 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076723 |
Open access | Open access |
Page range | 1 - 6 |
Research Group | Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research |
Publisher's version |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/88055/does-an-activity-permissive-workplace-change-office-workers-sitting-and-activity-time
Download files
120
total views105
total downloads4
views this month1
downloads this month