Understanding the Implementation of “Sit Less at Work” Interventions in Three Organisations: A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation

Kelly Mackenzie, Elizabeth Such, Paul Norman and Elizabeth Goyder
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Kelly Mackenzie: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK
Elizabeth Such: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK
Paul Norman: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Cathedral Court, 1 Vicar Lane, Sheffield S1 2LT, UK
Elizabeth Goyder: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: Long periods of workplace sitting are associated with poor health outcomes. Interventions to reduce workplace sitting time have had variable impacts, the reasons for which require further investigation. In this paper, we report on a process evaluation aiming to determine the intervention fidelity of three “sit less at work” interventions and to explore barriers and enablers to implementation, using a mixed methods “before and after” intervention study design. Convenience samples of staff were recruited from three diverse organisations to participate in pre- and post-intervention online questionnaires, objective measures of sitting time (using activPAL3™ devices) and post-intervention focus groups. Intervention implementers and key personnel were also recruited to participate in post-intervention focus groups and interviews. The process evaluation found that none of the interventions were implemented as intended, with no consistent reductions in sitting time. Contextual and organisational cultural barriers included workload pressures and the social norms of sitting, competing priorities, lack of management buy-in, and perceptions of where the responsibility for behaviour change should come from. To ensure effective implementation of future initiatives, deeper organisational-level change, requiring buy-in from all levels of management and staff, may be needed to shift organisational culture and associated social norms.

Keywords: workplace; occupational; sitting; sedentary behaviour; process evaluation; organisational culture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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