Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of walking in reducing the effects of workplace stress which is related to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). For example altered heart rate response to stress, high blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI). Further to this, the study aimed to assess whether the environment in which the lunchtime walk took place could impact the results of the study.
Who can participate?
Participants ranged in age from 18 to 65 years. Participants were required to be healthy, that is free from any cardiovascular or neurological disease and not receiving medication that could affect either system. Participants also needed to be able to take part in fairly intense exercise.
What does the study involve?
This study consisted of an 8-week study period. During this time participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups. The groups were two lunchtime walking group and one control group. The first walking group consisted of a 2km nature route. The other walking group consisted of is a 2km route that is predominantly a built environment. Participants allocated to these groups were required to walk their given route twice a week during two separate lunch breaks. The third group was a waiting-control group who were required to continue with their regular lunchtime activities. Those in the waiting control group will be given access to the walking routes at the end of the 8 week intervention period. Following this period participants were able to walk in either environment and as many times as they wished as long as it was during their lunch break. Walking habits were recorded by the participants and primary and secondary outcome measures were assessed again after 3 months. Collection of activity diaries finished in December 2011.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Expected improvements in health and well-being. There was a small risk of injury when walking around the prescribed walking routes however a full risk assessment was carried out prior to the start of the study and participants were advised on how to minimise these risks e.g. appropriate footwear and notifying a colleague when leaving for a walk.
Where is the study run from?
Centre for Sport and Exercise Science (CSES), University of Essex
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2011 to December 2011.
Who is funding the study?
The Economic and Social Research Council and the British Heart Foundation
Who is the main contact?
Dr Valerie Gladwell
vglad@essex.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Valerie Gladwell
ORCID ID
Contact details
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom
-
vglad@essex.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Walks4work: Rationale and study design to investigate walking at lunchtime in the workplace setting
Acronym
Study hypothesis
1. After 8 weeks the walking groups would show improved response and recovery of heart rate and vagal tone to acute stress as compared to the waiting control group
2. The walk in the nature environment would improve heart rate response and recovery to an acute stress as compared to the built environment condition
Ethics approval
Cambridgeshire NHS Research Ethics Committee, 21/10/2010, ref: 10/H0305/66
Study design
Randomised waiting-control group trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Modifying workplace stress
Intervention
Participants were assigned to a natural walking environment (n = 32) vs. built walking environment (n = 33) vs. waiting-control group (n = 29) for an 8 week period. Following this all participants, including the waiting control group, were given the option of walking either of the two routes when walking at lunchtime. This stage of the study lasted for 3 months following the 8-week intervention period.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Heart rate responses to and recovery from a stressor
2. Changes in vagal activity over the stressor and in recovery measured using the high frequency component of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis
Secondary outcome measures
1. Levels of lunchtime physical activity
2. An objective biomarker of stress, cortisol
3. Subjective ratings of stress and mental health assessed using questionnaires, which were SF-8, Perceived stress scale, work engagement, job satisfaction, Rosenburg's self-esteem and the positive and negative affect scale
4. Changes in physical cardiovascular risk factors of blood pressure, body mass index, heart rate variability, waist circumference, and predicted aerobic fitness
Overall trial start date
16/04/2011
Overall trial end date
16/12/2011
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged between 18 - 65 years old
2. Healthy
3. Able to participate in fairly intense exercise
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
94
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Participants outside of give age range
2. Those with cardiovascular and/or neurological conditions or taking medication which affect either of these systems
3. Anyone who cannot participate in fairly intense exercise
Recruitment start date
16/04/2011
Recruitment end date
16/12/2011
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University of Essex
Colchester
CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Economic and Social Research Council (UK)
Sponsor details
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1UJ
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
Research council
Website
Organisation
British Heart Foundation
Sponsor details
Greater London House
180 Hampstead Road
London
NW1 7AW
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
Charity
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research council
Funder name
Economic Social Research Council (UK) - Early career fellowship ref: RES-064-27-0019)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
British Heart Foundation (UK) - Non-clinical PhD studentship ref: FS/10/32/28204
Alternative name(s)
BHF
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
foundation
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2012 protocol in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22830646
2014 results in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24623515