Does using sit-stand desks at work affect how many calories people burn and how much time they spend sitting over the entire day? A feasibility study

INTERVENTION: This study comprises four Phases: Phase I consists of an online survey aiming to explore: 1. Eligible participants’ interest in participating in a trial aiming to assess the use of sit‐stand desks at work 2. Their preferences for different desk types (full desks vs desk mounts) 3. Their preference regarding the location (home vs workplace vs clinical research facility) for the baseline and follow‐up assessments. Phase II consists of an assessment of eligible participants’ workspaces to determine sit‐stand desk installation suitability. Phase III consists of a randomised component during which participants will be allocated either to the intervention or a waiting list control group. The intervention will comprise the provision of sit‐stand desks at work for three months. Participants will be offered one of two desk types according to their preferences and workspace restrictions: desk mounts or full desks. To enhance desk use, participants will also be given: 1. A demonstration of how their desk works, delivered in person by a researcher 2. Written instructions on how to use the desks 3. Information on correct ergonomic posture 4. Information on the benefits of standing, reducing sitting and breaking up sitting time 5. Guidance on gradually building up standing time 6. Recommendations relating to the amount of time to increase standing and reduce sitting 7. Information on how the desks are used by others. During Phase III all participants given sit‐stand desks will be asked to complete short biweekly video and/or paper‐based diaries to record the circumstances under which they choose to use the desks to stand (e.g. type of task performed, time of day), which will be used to explore the barriers and facilitators to standing. On occasion, participants will also be directly observed in their workplaces by a researcher to record their behaviour, including the different tasks undertaken while standing vs sitting. Those allocated to the waiting list control group w CONDITION: Prolonged sitting time ; Not Applicable PRIMARY OUTCOME: This feasibility study is not powered to detect changes in outcome measures but to assess the feasibility and acceptability of procedures planned for a full‐scale trial. ; ; Phase I; The following outcomes will be assessed via online questionnaire:; 1. Proportion of eligible participants interested in taking part in a 3 month trial on the use of sit‐stand desks at work (Outcome 1 of Phase I); 2. Proportion of eligible participants interested in taking part in a 6 month trial on the use of sit‐stand desks at work (Outcome 2 of Phase I); 3. Demographic characteristics (Outcome 3 of Phase I); 3.1. Age; 3.2. Gender; 3.3. BMI; 3.4. Salary band; 3.5. Highest educational qualification; 3.6. Position within company; 3.7. Postcode of primary residence; 4. Proportion of participants preferring desk mounts vs full desks (Outcome 4 of Phase I); 5. Proportion of participants preferring to be assessed at home vs work vs the clinical research facility (Outcome 5 of Phase II); ; Phase II; 1. Proportion of workplaces suitable for full desks and desk mounts assessed via workplace auditing and recording (Outcome 1 of Phase II); 2. Proportion of workspaces permitting participants’ choice of desk to be installed (Outcome 2 of Phase II); ; Phase III; 1. Practicalities of delivering the intervention, assessed by recording (Outcome 1 of Phase III):; 1.1. The time lapse between ordering the desks from the manufacturer and their delivery; 1.2. Any permissions needed to install each desk type; 1.3. The feasibility of training research staff to install desks; 1.4. The feasibility of one person (a trained research assistant) installing each desk without help; 1.5. The amount of time needed to install each desk ; 1.6. Any problems associated with delivering the desks to participants; 1.7. Any problems installing each desk type ; 1.8. The practicalities associated with removing existing desks (applicable only when using full desks); 2. Circumstances and factors affecting desk use assessed via direct observations and diaries/logs (Outcome 2 of Phase III); 3. Proportion of participants dropping out between randomisation and the 3 month follow up (Outcome 3 of Phase III); 4. Trial‐related outcomes, assessed at baseline (before randomisation) and at 3 months follow up (Outcome 4 of Phase III):; 4.1. Sedentary behaviour measured using thigh‐based accelerometer (activPAL) (Outcome 4.1):; 4.1.1. Sitting time during a) working hours (workplace sitting time) and b) all waking hours (total sitting time) (outcome 4.1.a); 4.1.2. Sitting patterns (number of sit‐to‐stand transitions; sitting time accrued in prolonged bouts (>=30 minutes)) during a) working hours (workplace sitting patterns) and b) all waking hours (total sitting patterns) (outcome 4.1.b); 4.1.3. Physical Activity Energy Expenditure estimated via combined heart rate and movement sensor (Actiheart) (Outcome 4.2); 4.2. Cardio‐metabolic related outcomes (Outcome 4.3):; 4.2.1. BMI calculated from weight and height (Outcome 4.3.a); 4.2.2. Weight measured using a scale (Outcome 4.3.b); 4.2.3. Height measured using a stadiometer (Outcome 4.3.c); 4.2.4. Body composition measured via bioelectric impedance spectroscopy device (Outcome 4.3.d); 4.2.5. Blood pressure measured via electronic sphygmomanometer (Outcome 4.3.e); 4.2.6. Waist and hip circumferences measured using a tape measure (Outcome 4.3.f); 4.2.7. Plasma total cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c ) measured via non‐fasting blood tests (Outcome 4.3.g); 4.3. Musculoskeletal discomfort measured using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (Outcome 4.3.h); 4.4. Ability to work, work productivity, presenteeism, absenteeism and job satisfaction measured using the Work Ability Index; Stanford Presenteeism Scale and Measure of Job Satisfaction (Outcome 4.3.i); 4.5. Domain‐specific sedentary behaviour measured using the SIT‐Q‐7d questionnaire (Outcome 4.3.j); 4.6. Health symptoms, including neck pain, headache, back pain, fatigue, eye strain, and loss of concentration , measured using a checklist (Outcome 4.3.k); 4.7. Health‐related quality of life measured using the Euro‐Quality of Life 5 (Outcome 4.3.l); 4.8. Food and drink consumption measured using a daily food log (Outcome 4.3.m); ; Phase IV; All outcomes assessed via qualitative interviews:; 1. Experiences of using desks, including factors perceived as affecting desk use, issues with desk use (contextual, practical, emotive or other) and adverse consequences (work, health or otherwise related) (Outcome 1 of Phase IV); 2. Experiences of other intervention components (Outcome 2 of Phase IV); 3. Company representatives’ perceptions of using sit‐stand desks (Outcome 3 of Phase IV); 4. Acceptability of intervention (Outcome 4 of Phase IV); 5. Acceptability of assessments and burden (Outcome 5 of Phase IV); 6. Acceptability of study procedures (Outcome 6 of Phase IV); ; Other measures; 1. Proportion of participants dropping out between Phases INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Office‐based employees working for two organisations in Cambridge UK 2. Work at least 0.6 full‐time (22 hours a week) 3. Spend at least 70% of a working week performing desk‐related activities