The Effect of an Electronic Passive Prompt Intervention on Prolonged Occupational Sitting and Light-Intensity Physical Activity in Desk-Based Adults Working from Home during COVID-19 in Ireland

Aidan J. Buffey (), Gráinne Hayes, Brian P. Carson and Alan E. Donnelly
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Aidan J. Buffey: Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
Gráinne Hayes: Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
Brian P. Carson: Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
Alan E. Donnelly: Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the effect of passive prompts on occupational physical behaviours (PBs) and bouts of prolonged sitting among desk-based workers in Ireland who were working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Electronic passive prompts were delivered every 45 min, asking participants to walk for five minutes, during working hours. Twenty-eight participants (aged 30–67 years) completed the six-week intervention between October 2020 and April 2021. PBs were measured using an activPAL3 TM accelerometer, following a 24 h wear protocol, worn for the duration of the study. Participants were highly sedentary at both baseline (77.71% of work hours) and during the intervention (75.81% of work hours). However, the number of prolonged occupational sedentary bouts > 90 min was reduced compared to baseline (0.56 ± 0.08 vs. 0.77 ± 0.11, p = 0.009). Similar reductions were observed in the time spent in sustained sitting > 60 and >90 min when compared to baseline sedentary patterns (60 min: −31.27 ± 11.91 min, p = 0.014; 90 min: −27.97 ± 9.39 min, p = 0.006). Light-intensity physical activity (LIPA) significantly increased during the intervention (+14.29%, p = 0.001). This study demonstrates that passive prompts, delivered remotely, can both reduce the number and overall time spent in prolonged bouts of occupational sedentary behaviour and increase occupational LIPA.

Keywords: workplace; occupational physical behaviours; sedentary behaviour; light-intensity physical activity; sedentary breaks; prolonged sitting; accelerometry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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