Participant and workplace champion experiences of an intervention designed to reduce sitting time in desk-based workers: SMART work &amp; life

doi:10.1186/s12966-023-01539-6

Study

Human FactorsRecentModerate effect

Workplace champions enhance intervention adoption for reducing sedentary behaviour

Trained workplace champions can significantly improve the perceived effectiveness and adoption of interventions aimed at reducing sitting time among desk-based workers.

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · 2023

01

Key Findings

01Workplace champions rated their training highly.
02Most participants reported increased awareness of sitting-related health risks and motivation to change.
03Group catch-up sessions were generally found helpful, though responses varied.
04Height-adjustable desks were perceived as a key factor for behaviour change by some participants.
05Mixed responses were observed for sitting less challenges and self-monitoring components.

02

Application

Design takeaway

Design interventions that include a strong peer support component and offer a variety of strategies to cater to diverse user preferences and needs.

How to apply

When designing workplace wellness programs, train and empower internal staff to act as champions who can promote and support the initiative among their colleagues.

Project actions

01Consider how to train and support 'champions' within your user group.
02Think about offering different ways for users to engage with your design, as not all methods will suit everyone.

03

Method & Evidence

AimTo understand the experiences of workplace champions and participants with an intervention designed to reduce sitting time in desk-based workers.

MethodMixed-methods research

ProcedureWorkplace champions received training and provided feedback. Participants completed questionnaires and participated in interviews and focus groups to assess their experiences with various intervention components, including education, group sessions, challenges, self-monitoring, and height-adjustable desks.

ContextDesk-based workplace environments

Variables

IV["Intervention components (education, group sessions, challenges, self-monitoring, adjustable desk)","Presence of workplace champions"]

DV["Participant awareness and motivation","Sitting time","Perceived helpfulness of intervention components"]

CV["Type of worker (desk-based)","Organizational setting (cluster randomized trial)"]

04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Utilized a mixed-methods approach for comprehensive data.
+Included both participant and facilitator (champion) perspectives.

Limitations

The effectiveness of specific intervention components like challenges and self-monitoring may vary significantly across different user groups.

Reliability & validity

The use of quantitative questionnaires and qualitative interviews/focus groups enhances both the reliability (consistency of findings across methods) and validity (measuring what it intends to measure) of the study's conclusions.

Think critically

How might the effectiveness of workplace champions be influenced by organizational culture and the champions' own roles and relationships within the company?

05

Design Principles

"Leverage social influence and environmental affordances to support behaviour change."

This research highlights the critical role of peer support and internal advocacy in the successful implementation of health and well-being initiatives within organizations. By leveraging internal resources, design projects can foster greater engagement and adherence to behaviour change strategies.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Having colleagues who are trained to help promote a new health program at work makes people more likely to try it and stick with it, though not every part of the program works for everyone.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of user engagement and social support in your design project's implementation strategy.

07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

(2023). Participant and workplace champion experiences of an intervention designed to reduce sitting time in desk-based workers: SMART work & life. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01539-6 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/685978bd-6da8-4c53-9ebf-38c853e1744d/workplace-champions-enhance-intervention-adoption-for-reducing-sedentary-behaviour

Paragraph starter

The successful implementation of interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour in the workplace is significantly enhanced by the presence of trained workplace champions, who provide peer support and advocacy. This approach, as demonstrated in research by Edwardson et al. (2023), can increase participant engagement and motivation, although the reception of specific intervention components may vary, highlighting the need for flexible and user-centred design strategies.

09

Source

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Participant and workplace champion experiences of an intervention designed to reduce sitting time in desk-based workers: SMART work & life

journal · 2023

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about workplace champions enhance intervention adoption for reducing sedentary behaviour?: Design interventions that include a strong peer support component and offer a variety of strategies to cater to diverse user preferences and needs. Evidence: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2023).
Why does "Workplace champions enhance intervention adoption for reducing sedentary behaviour" matter for design?: This research highlights the critical role of peer support and internal advocacy in the successful implementation of health and well-being initiatives within organizations. By leveraging internal resources, design projects can foster greater engagement and adherence to behaviour change strategies.
How can designers apply this research?: Design interventions that include a strong peer support component and offer a variety of strategies to cater to diverse user preferences and needs.
What were the main findings?: Workplace champions rated their training highly.. Most participants reported increased awareness of sitting-related health risks and motivation to change.. Group catch-up sessions were generally found helpful, though responses varied.. Height-adjustable desks were perceived as a key factor for behaviour change by some participants.
What research method was used?: Mixed-methods research.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing workplace wellness programs, train and empower internal staff to act as champions who can promote and support the initiative among their colleagues.
What are the limitations?: Participant responses to specific intervention components were mixed, suggesting a need for further personalization or refinement of these elements.
Is there evidence that workplace champions affects design outcomes?: The intervention, facilitated by trained workplace champions, successfully increased awareness and motivation to reduce sitting time. While group sessions were mostly positive, other components like challenges and self-monitoring had mixed reception, and adjustable desks were seen as a significant enabler for some. Thi Source: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2023).
Where does this reduce sitting research apply?: Desk-based workplace environments It sits within human factors research on designdex.org.