sipIT Mini Worksite Study: Measuring the feasibility of the mini sipIT intervention on office worker sedentary behavior
Open Access
- Author:
- Kuzmich, Madison
- Area of Honors:
- Kinesiology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- David E Conroy, Thesis Supervisor
Lacy Marie Alexander, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Sedentary behavior
office workers
fluid intervention
stealth intervention - Abstract:
- Sedentary time experienced by office workers has become one of the largest concerns among researchers and medical professionals, especially for the health outcomes that result. Although previous studies have been successful in reducing the amount of time that office workers spend at work, not all of these interventions are cost-effective and applicable in every office setting. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a stealth intervention using fluid intake to modify sedentary time in office workers. Thirty sedentary office workers were recruited to use the sipIT intervention for one month. Sedentary behavior was assessed for one week at baseline and follow-up with a thigh-worn accelerometer and inclinometer (activPAL) Participants were assigned the goal of consuming 8 fluid ounces/ hour during a 12-hour window of their choosing, and they received reminder messages when the hourly goal was not met. The sipIT tools were acceptable in our study sample, and modest increases were observed in step count and sit-to-stand transitions, and reductions in sitting time, time spent in sedentary bouts greater than 30 minutes and 60 minutes, and number of sedentary bouts greater than 30 minutes and 60 minutes. However, these changes were not statistically significant. Use of the intervention tools and results from the follow-up questionnaire demonstrate the acceptability of the intervention among this sample. This study established that the sipIT intervention is both feasible and acceptable to sedentary office workers. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate the effects of sipIT on fluid intake, hydration status, and sedentary behavior in at-risk office workers.