The effectiveness of sedentary behaviour reduction workplace interventions on cardiometabolic risk markers: a systematic review and assessment of behaviour change techniques.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the effects of sedentary workplace interventions on cardiometabolic health and identify the active behaviour change techniques (BCTs) by which these interventions work. Background: Prolonged sitting is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. Office work responsibilities are becoming increasingly deskbound and dependent on technology, which can result in high exposure to prolonged sitting. Reducing this risk through theory-based interventions is a public health priority. Methods: A systematic search of 11 databases in June 2017 yielded 3618 unique titles with 21 articles being identified for inclusion. Interventions were rated as very promising, quite promising or non-promising based on their effects on cardiometabolic risk markers compared with baseline and/or a control group. Interventions were coded for BCTs used. To assess the relative effectiveness of behaviour change techniques, a promise ratio was calculated as the frequency of BCT appearing in all promising interventions divided by its frequency of appearance in all non-promising interventions. Conclusions: A narrative synthesis included 21 published studies of varying study design and comprised 22 interventions. Risk of bias was high for blinding, allocation concealment and baseline differences, but low for outcome assessment. Six interventions were very promising, eleven were quite promising, five were non-promising. The BCTs of social comparison, adding objects to the environment, and habit formation demonstrated the highest promise ratios. Workplace interventions showed promise for improving cardiometabolic health. Promising BCTs concerning social, environmental, and habitual influences should be considered for future interventions.