Sedentary LifestyleNCT03375749
StandUP UBC: Reducing Workplace Sitting
A study testing Standing desk intervention in people with Sedentary Lifestyle, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
Research indicates that sedentary behaviours, such as prolonged sitting, have negative health consequences and increases risk for disease. Unfortunately, many office-workers spend a high proportion of their workday sitting, often in prolonged unbroken bouts. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 64 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- What is being tested?
- Standing desk intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 15 Jan 2018to 26 Sep 2018
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 64 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- (1) individuals who are desk-based (>75% of seated working hours),
- (2) work at least three days a week using the same desk,
- (3) aged 18-64 years, and
- (4) have the capability of standing.
Who cannot join
- (1) individuals who are not predominantly desk-based (<75% seated working hours),
- (2) work less than three days a week in the same office, or will not be working for the full duration of the study (i.e., retirement, term-time only, maternity/extended leave),
- (3) self-report having severe musculoskeletal conditions which restrict them from standing,
- (4) already use a standing desk.
- (5) unable to read or understand English or provide full informed consent.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Canada1 site
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4
About this study
Official title: StandUP UBC: Impact of a Low-cost Standing Desk on Reducing Workplace Sitting
Research indicates that sedentary behaviours, such as prolonged sitting, have negative health consequences and increases risk for disease. Unfortunately, many office-workers spend a high proportion of their workday sitting, often in prolonged unbroken bouts. Recent interventions have provided active workstations (e.g., sit-stand desks) to reduce employee sitting. However, cost prohibits provision of these desks in work environments. There is a need for low-cost solutions to reduce sitting at work. The purpose of this study is to determine whether provision of a low-cost standing desk reduces workplace sitting, and results in improvements in work engagement and fatigue, compared to usual practice.
Read the detailed description
Study objectives: This study aims to provide a cost-effective solution to reducing sitting time during the workday, through provision of (1) low-cost cardboard standing desks ($20), and (2) simple behaviour change strategies (e.g., instruction on how to break up sitting time and information on the health consequences of doing so).
Background: Sedentary behaviour, defined as 'any waking behaviour characterised by an energy expenditure ≤1.5 metabolic equivalents while in a sitting, reclining, or lying posture', is a risk factor for poor health, independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). High levels of sedentary behaviour and excessive bouts of prolonged sitting is associated with increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
Sedentary behaviours are prevalent among Canadian adults, who often spend a large proportion of their waking hours sitting (e.g., work, commuting, watching TV), and office workers have been identified as one of the most sedentary occupational groups. Sedentary behaviour can be reduced by replacing sitting time with standing or light ambulation. In order to do so, it is vital to create an environment that makes sitting less likely and standing/moving easier. There is some evidence that introduction of sit-stand desks can reduce occupational sitting time within office environments ; however, there are cost barriers to the provision of these desks in work environments and few randomized control trials have demonstrated the long-term compliance and effectiveness of these desks on health- (e.g., weight, waist circumference, blood-derived biomarkers, musculoskeletal symptoms, fatigue) and work-related (e.g., work performance/productivity) outcomes. These are important factors that need to be considered and studied in further detail to quantify the benefit of sit-stand workstations.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a low-cost intervention aimed at reducing workplace sitting time in office workers.
Primary objectives:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention at reducing daily occupational sitting time over 6 months.
Secondary objectives:
- To explore whether the intervention results in improvements in work engagement and productivity, and occupational fatigue.
Methods/Design: The intervention will be delivered and evaluated over a 6-month period. This study is a two-arm randomized waitlist-controlled trial with one intervention group and one control group. After eligibility assessment, individuals will be randomly allocated to either the intervention or the control arm. The experimental group participants will receive a low-cost cardboard standing desk converter in their regular office environment and behaviour change strategies to break up sitting time, while the control group participants will not encounter any change to their regular work environments or be provided with any behaviour change strategies.
Intervention for experimental group:
Each participant allocated to the experimental group will receive a low-cost, cardboard, fixed-height standing desk converter (https://oristand.co/) that will be placed in their regular office environment, along with their usual sitting desk. The participants will be instructed on how to use the fixed-height standing desk converter (herein referred to as standing desk) as a way to break up sitting time every 30 minutes. In addition, each participant will be provided with information about the health benefits of breaking up sitting time.
Waitlist Control group:
Control group participants will not encounter any changes to their regular office environment. They will be provided with the standing desk and behaviour change strategies 6-months post-intervention.
- Conditions
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- Being tested
- Standing desk intervention, Waitlist control
- Keywords
- sitting
- Medical subject headings
- Sedentary Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Standing desk interventionBehavioural
Standing desk converter
Waitlist controlBehavioural
Control
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Standing Desk Intervention | Experimental | Each participant allocated to the experimental group will receive a low-cost, cardboard, fixed-height standing desk converter (https://oristand.co/) that will be placed in their regular office environment, along with their usual sitting desk. The participants will be instructed on how to use the fixed-height standing desk converter (herein referred to as standing desk) as a way to break up sitting time every 30 minutes. In addition, each participant will be provided with information about the health benefits of breaking up sitting time. Receives: Behavioral: Standing desk intervention |
| Waitlist Control | Other | Control group participants will not encounter any changes to their regular office environment. They will be provided with the standing desk and behaviour change strategies 6-months post-intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Waitlist control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Reduction in sitting time
Daily minutes sitting time measured with an activPAL3 micro activity monitor
Measured: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Reduced number of prolonged sitting bouts (>30 min)
Number of daily bouts of sitting (>30 mins) measured with an activPAL3 micro activity monitor
Measured: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Secondary outcomes (2)
Work engagement
Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). Work engagement will be measured using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), a 7-point likert scale ("never" [0]to "always" [6]). There are three sub-scales: vigour, dedication, and absorption. The mean scale score of the three UWES subscales is computed by adding the 3 scores on each particular scale and dividing the sum by the number of items of the subscale involved. A similar procedure is followed for the total score. Hence, the UWES yields three subscale scores and/or a total score that range between 0 and 6. Higher values reflect better outcomes.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Occupational fatigue
Need for Recovery (NFR) scale. Occupational fatigue will be measured using the 11-item Need for Recovery (NFR) scale. Indicators of fatigue assessed on the NFR scale include a lack of concentration and reduced motivation for activities at the end of the day. Participants are given dichotomous response options (yes/no) to answer whether or not they experience each indicator. The total number of indicators present for each individual is converted into a scale score which ranges from 0 to 100, where higher scores show a greater need for recovery and thereby greater short-term work-related fatigue.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Dec 2017
- Study start15 Jan 2018
- Primary completion26 Sep 2018
- Study completion26 Sep 2018
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Sedentary LifestyleStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of British ColumbiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of British Columbia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Guy Faulkner, University of British Columbia
- Investigators
- Guy Faulkner, PhD, Principal investigator, University of British Columbia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03375749
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H17-02776
- Status last verified
- Dec 2018
- First submitted
- 12 Dec 2017
- Last updated
- 4 Dec 2018
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Tremblay MS, Aubert S, Barnes JD, Saunders TJ, Carson V, Latimer-Cheung AE, Chastin SFM, Altenburg TM, Chinapaw MJM; SBRN Terminology Consensus Project Participants. Sedentary Behavior Research Network (SBRN) - Terminology Consensus Project process and outcome. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017 Jun 10;14(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s12966-017-0525-8.
PubMed 28599680Shrestha N, Kukkonen-Harjula KT, Verbeek JH, Ijaz S, Hermans V, Bhaumik S. Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 17;3(3):CD010912. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010912.pub3.
PubMed 26984326Neuhaus M, Eakin EG, Straker L, Owen N, Dunstan DW, Reid N, Healy GN. Reducing occupational sedentary time: a systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence on activity-permissive workstations. Obes Rev. 2014 Oct;15(10):822-38. doi: 10.1111/obr.12201. Epub 2014 Jul 11.
PubMed 25040784Faulkner G, Weatherson KA, Duncan MJ, Wunderlich KB, Puterman E. Exploring Work-Time Affective States Through Ecological Momentary Assessment in an Office-Based Intervention to Reduce Occupational Sitting. J Phys Act Health. 2023 Apr 10;20(6):566-570. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2022-0495. Print 2023 Jun 1.
PubMed 37037458Weatherson K, Yun L, Wunderlich K, Puterman E, Faulkner G. Application of an Ecological Momentary Assessment Protocol in a Workplace Intervention: Assessing Compliance, Criterion Validity, and Reactivity. J Phys Act Health. 2019 Nov 1;16(11):985-992. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2019-0152. Epub 2019 Sep 20.
PubMed 31541068Weatherson KA, Wunderlich KB, Faulkner GE. Impact of a low-cost standing desk on reducing workplace sitting (StandUP UBC): A randomised controlled trial. Appl Ergon. 2020 Jan;82:102951. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2019.102951. Epub 2019 Sep 14.
PubMed 31526916
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Dec 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- StandUP UBC: Impact of a Low-cost Standing Desk on Reducing Workplace Sitting
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03375749
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- H17-02776
- Conditions
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- Keywords
- sitting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of British ColumbiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Jan 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 26 Sep 2018 (actual)
- Study completion
- 26 Sep 2018 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Dec 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Research indicates that sedentary behaviours, such as prolonged sitting, have negative health consequences and increases risk for disease. Unfortunately, many office-workers spend a high proportion of their workday sitting, often in prolonged unbroken bouts. Recent interventions have provided active workstations (e.g., sit-stand desks) to reduce employee sitting. However, cost prohibits provision of these desks in work environments. There is a need for low-cost solutions to reduce sitting at work. The purpose of this study is to determine whether provision of a low-cost standing desk reduces workplace sitting, and results in improvements in work engagement and fatigue, compared to usual practice.
Detailed description
Study objectives: This study aims to provide a cost-effective solution to reducing sitting time during the workday, through provision of (1) low-cost cardboard standing desks ($20), and (2) simple behaviour change strategies (e.g., instruction on how to break up sitting time and information on the health consequences of doing so).
Background: Sedentary behaviour, defined as 'any waking behaviour characterised by an energy expenditure ≤1.5 metabolic equivalents while in a sitting, reclining, or lying posture', is a risk factor for poor health, independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). High levels of sedentary behaviour and excessive bouts of prolonged sitting is associated with increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
Sedentary behaviours are prevalent among Canadian adults, who often spend a large proportion of their waking hours sitting (e.g., work, commuting, watching TV), and office workers have been identified as one of the most sedentary occupational groups. Sedentary behaviour can be reduced by replacing sitting time with standing or light ambulation. In order to do so, it is vital to create an environment that makes sitting less likely and standing/moving easier. There is some evidence that introduction of sit-stand desks can reduce occupational sitting time within office environments ; however, there are cost barriers to the provision of these desks in work environments and few randomized control trials have demonstrated the long-term compliance and effectiveness of these desks on health- (e.g., weight, waist circumference, blood-derived biomarkers, musculoskeletal symptoms, fatigue) and work-related (e.g., work performance/productivity) outcomes. These are important factors that need to be considered and studied in further detail to quantify the benefit of sit-stand workstations.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a low-cost intervention aimed at reducing workplace sitting time in office workers.
Primary objectives:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention at reducing daily occupational sitting time over 6 months.
Secondary objectives:
- To explore whether the intervention results in improvements in work engagement and productivity, and occupational fatigue.
Methods/Design: The intervention will be delivered and evaluated over a 6-month period. This study is a two-arm randomized waitlist-controlled trial with one intervention group and one control group. After eligibility assessment, individuals will be randomly allocated to either the intervention or the control arm. The experimental group participants will receive a low-cost cardboard standing desk converter in their regular office environment and behaviour change strategies to break up sitting time, while the control group participants will not encounter any change to their regular work environments or be provided with any behaviour change strategies.
Intervention for experimental group:
Each participant allocated to the experimental group will receive a low-cost, cardboard, fixed-height standing desk converter (https://oristand.co/) that will be placed in their regular office environment, along with their usual sitting desk. The participants will be instructed on how to use the fixed-height standing desk converter (herein referred to as standing desk) as a way to break up sitting time every 30 minutes. In addition, each participant will be provided with information about the health benefits of breaking up sitting time.
Waitlist Control group:
Control group participants will not encounter any changes to their regular office environment. They will be provided with the standing desk and behaviour change strategies 6-months post-intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Standing Desk Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Standing desk interventionEach participant allocated to the experimental group will receive a low-cost, cardboard, fixed-height standing desk converter (https://oristand.co/) that will be placed in their regular office environment, along with their usual sitting desk. The participants will be instructed on how to use the fixed-height standing desk converter (herein referred to as standing desk) as a way to break up sitting time every 30 minutes. In addition, each participant will be provided with information about the health benefits of breaking up sitting time. |
| Waitlist Control | Other | Behavioral: Waitlist controlControl group participants will not encounter any changes to their regular office environment. They will be provided with the standing desk and behaviour change strategies 6-months post-intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 64 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- (1) individuals who are desk-based (>75% of seated working hours),
- (2) work at least three days a week using the same desk,
- (3) aged 18-64 years, and
- (4) have the capability of standing.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- (1) individuals who are not predominantly desk-based (<75% seated working hours),
- (2) work less than three days a week in the same office, or will not be working for the full duration of the study (i.e., retirement, term-time only, maternity/extended leave),
- (3) self-report having severe musculoskeletal conditions which restrict them from standing,
- (4) already use a standing desk.
- (5) unable to read or understand English or provide full informed consent.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Standing desk interventionStanding desk converter | Behavioural | Standing Desk Intervention |
| Waitlist controlControl | Behavioural | Waitlist Control |
Primary outcome
Reduction in sitting time
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Daily minutes sitting time measured with an activPAL3 micro activity monitor
Reduced number of prolonged sitting bouts (>30 min)
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Number of daily bouts of sitting (>30 mins) measured with an activPAL3 micro activity monitor
2 secondary outcomes
Work engagement
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Occupational fatigue
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Dec 2018.
- Background: PubMed 28599680Tremblay MS, Aubert S, Barnes JD, Saunders TJ, Carson V, Latimer-Cheung AE, Chastin SFM, Altenburg TM, Chinapaw MJM; SBRN Terminology Consensus Project Participants. Sedentary Behavior Research Network (SBRN) - Terminology Consensus Project process and outcome. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017 Jun 10;14(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s12966-017-0525-8.
- Background: PubMed 26984326Shrestha N, Kukkonen-Harjula KT, Verbeek JH, Ijaz S, Hermans V, Bhaumik S. Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 17;3(3):CD010912. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010912.pub3.
- Background: PubMed 25040784Neuhaus M, Eakin EG, Straker L, Owen N, Dunstan DW, Reid N, Healy GN. Reducing occupational sedentary time: a systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence on activity-permissive workstations. Obes Rev. 2014 Oct;15(10):822-38. doi: 10.1111/obr.12201. Epub 2014 Jul 11.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 37037458Faulkner G, Weatherson KA, Duncan MJ, Wunderlich KB, Puterman E. Exploring Work-Time Affective States Through Ecological Momentary Assessment in an Office-Based Intervention to Reduce Occupational Sitting. J Phys Act Health. 2023 Apr 10;20(6):566-570. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2022-0495. Print 2023 Jun 1.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 31541068Weatherson K, Yun L, Wunderlich K, Puterman E, Faulkner G. Application of an Ecological Momentary Assessment Protocol in a Workplace Intervention: Assessing Compliance, Criterion Validity, and Reactivity. J Phys Act Health. 2019 Nov 1;16(11):985-992. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2019-0152. Epub 2019 Sep 20.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 31526916Weatherson KA, Wunderlich KB, Faulkner GE. Impact of a low-cost standing desk on reducing workplace sitting (StandUP UBC): A randomised controlled trial. Appl Ergon. 2020 Jan;82:102951. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2019.102951. Epub 2019 Sep 14.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Guy Faulkner, PhD principal investigator
University of British Columbia
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Standing desk intervention in people with Sedentary Lifestyle, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Dec 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Reduction in sitting time (time frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03375749, which also lists 6 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Dec 2018.