Start moving - benefits of an onsite workplace health program in the age of digitalization

Abstract Background The process of digitization should simplify our work and improve related processes (i.e. quality, transparency). Moreover, it enables the home office, which is greatly expanded due to the current pandemic. Regarding workplace health, it should be noted that with increasing digiti...

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Main Authors: Borle Prem, Boerner-Zobel Franziska, Bias Harald, Voelter-Mahlknecht Susanne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-10-01
Series:Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00338-8
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author Borle Prem
Boerner-Zobel Franziska
Bias Harald
Voelter-Mahlknecht Susanne
author_facet Borle Prem
Boerner-Zobel Franziska
Bias Harald
Voelter-Mahlknecht Susanne
author_sort Borle Prem
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The process of digitization should simplify our work and improve related processes (i.e. quality, transparency). Moreover, it enables the home office, which is greatly expanded due to the current pandemic. Regarding workplace health, it should be noted that with increasing digitization, physical activity decreases, and as a result, the number of work-related diseases will increase. On the other hand, increasing digitization also offers promising opportunities for new approaches to workplace health promotion. With these positive as well as negative effects in mind, we designed a workshop to increase physical activity at work. This protocol describes our approach to a live workshop concept. Methods We use a randomized controlled trial with two intervention groups: a live workshop with and without additional reminders. The workshop intervention design consists of a baseline measurement, two workshops, and one follow-up measurement. Each workshop takes place in small groups (n < 11). We use a randomized allocation to both groups. To control for health-related effects and the expected behavior change we examine (i) physical activity (i.e. active time, taken steps, etc.) by a tracking device (ii) physical wellbeing, motivation, and volition by an online questionnaire, and (iii) participants also report physical activity by a diary. All measurements are taken one week before the respective workshop and 24 weeks after the initial baseline measures. Discussion A live workshop offers advantages such as very personal interactions and a low technical effort. However, during the current pandemic, there are some limitations (i.e. small groups, pay attention to hygienic guidelines). Based on the upcoming experiences of this workshop, a web-based approach might offer some advantages (i.e. easier daily implementation, independent from a participant’s location) regarding home office workplaces and the increasing digitization. On the other hand, there are also mandatory requirements as a stable internet connection and technical equipment (i.e. webcam, microphone). Overall, a step by step development of a web-based workshop, based on the experience of the live workshop, can be regarded as advantageous. Trial registration Since this article reports a health promotion intervention concept with human participants, we registered it in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS). Number: DRKS00021512 , Date:30.10.2020.
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spelling doaj.art-c54872f9e308402599465b7ca97e05542022-12-22T03:59:04ZengBMCJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology1745-66732021-10-0116111010.1186/s12995-021-00338-8Start moving - benefits of an onsite workplace health program in the age of digitalizationBorle Prem0Boerner-Zobel Franziska1Bias Harald2Voelter-Mahlknecht Susanne3Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Occupational MedicineCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Occupational MedicineCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Occupational MedicineCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Occupational MedicineAbstract Background The process of digitization should simplify our work and improve related processes (i.e. quality, transparency). Moreover, it enables the home office, which is greatly expanded due to the current pandemic. Regarding workplace health, it should be noted that with increasing digitization, physical activity decreases, and as a result, the number of work-related diseases will increase. On the other hand, increasing digitization also offers promising opportunities for new approaches to workplace health promotion. With these positive as well as negative effects in mind, we designed a workshop to increase physical activity at work. This protocol describes our approach to a live workshop concept. Methods We use a randomized controlled trial with two intervention groups: a live workshop with and without additional reminders. The workshop intervention design consists of a baseline measurement, two workshops, and one follow-up measurement. Each workshop takes place in small groups (n < 11). We use a randomized allocation to both groups. To control for health-related effects and the expected behavior change we examine (i) physical activity (i.e. active time, taken steps, etc.) by a tracking device (ii) physical wellbeing, motivation, and volition by an online questionnaire, and (iii) participants also report physical activity by a diary. All measurements are taken one week before the respective workshop and 24 weeks after the initial baseline measures. Discussion A live workshop offers advantages such as very personal interactions and a low technical effort. However, during the current pandemic, there are some limitations (i.e. small groups, pay attention to hygienic guidelines). Based on the upcoming experiences of this workshop, a web-based approach might offer some advantages (i.e. easier daily implementation, independent from a participant’s location) regarding home office workplaces and the increasing digitization. On the other hand, there are also mandatory requirements as a stable internet connection and technical equipment (i.e. webcam, microphone). Overall, a step by step development of a web-based workshop, based on the experience of the live workshop, can be regarded as advantageous. Trial registration Since this article reports a health promotion intervention concept with human participants, we registered it in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS). Number: DRKS00021512 , Date:30.10.2020.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00338-8Physical activityCoachingMultilevel approachSelf-efficacyWorkplace
spellingShingle Borle Prem
Boerner-Zobel Franziska
Bias Harald
Voelter-Mahlknecht Susanne
Start moving - benefits of an onsite workplace health program in the age of digitalization
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Physical activity
Coaching
Multilevel approach
Self-efficacy
Workplace
title Start moving - benefits of an onsite workplace health program in the age of digitalization
title_full Start moving - benefits of an onsite workplace health program in the age of digitalization
title_fullStr Start moving - benefits of an onsite workplace health program in the age of digitalization
title_full_unstemmed Start moving - benefits of an onsite workplace health program in the age of digitalization
title_short Start moving - benefits of an onsite workplace health program in the age of digitalization
title_sort start moving benefits of an onsite workplace health program in the age of digitalization
topic Physical activity
Coaching
Multilevel approach
Self-efficacy
Workplace
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00338-8
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