ISRCTN ISRCTN25767399
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN25767399
Secondary identifying numbers NIH (Grant No. R03 NR010291)
Submission date
16/02/2015
Registration date
26/03/2015
Last edited
25/09/2017
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
The workplace is an important potential setting for physical activity (PA) interventions (i.e. programmes). However, few workplace PA interventions take full advantage of work breaks and result in limited-to-modest success. Booster Breaks are organized work breaks that are designed to improve employees physical and psychological health, increase job satisfaction and improve work productivity. Booster Breaks have been developed to alleviate work-related stress and encourage more PA behavior in employees that may otherwise have sedentary jobs. Examples of Booster Breaks include short exercise or meditation sessions. The aim of this study is to test whether Booster Breaks increase PA among sedentary employees, compared with individualized PA work breaks and typical work breaks.

Who can participate?
Employees with sedentary office jobs from four workplaces in a large, urban southwestern U.S. city.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated into one of three groups. Those in group 1 are assigned to the Usual Break (control) group. Those in group 2 are assigned to the Computer Prompt (individualized PA work breaks) group. Those in group 3 are assigned to the Booster Break group. The Usual Break condition includes usual or typical work break practices and behaviors. The two interventions are developed to be consistent with the WHO Healthy Workplace Framework and Model. The individualized Computer Prompt condition is designed to interrupt prolonged sitting time by introducing 3-minute breaks, 5 times per day. The group-based Booster Break condition is a peer-led, once-a-day, 15-minute PA session that guides employees through a series of stretching, strengthening, and aerobic movements followed by a brief meditation. Based on a participation rate threshold of 70%, workplaces were classified either as consistent or inconsistent implementers of the intervention. A number of physiological and behavioral measures are assessed before the study starts and 6 months later.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration

Where is the study run from?
Four different work places in a large, urban southwestern U.S. city

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2009 to January 2013

Who is funding the study?
National Institutes of Health (USA)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Wendell Taylor

Contact information

Dr Wendell Taylor
Scientific

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
School of Public Health
CHPPR
7000 Fannin Street
Suite 2670
Houston
TX 77030
United States of America

Study information

Study designRandomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Community
Study typePrevention
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleImpact of Booster Breaks on physical activity among sedentary employees: a cluster randomized controlled trial
Study objectivesIt was hypothesized that, compared with non-Booster Break participants, Booster Break participants will have significant improvements in:
1. Physiological measures (i.e., blood pressure, fasting lipids, triglycerides, and anthropometrics)
2. PA (increase) and sedentary behavior (decrease)
3. PA mediators
4. Employee and organizational psychosocial constructs
Ethics approval(s)This study was approved by the appropriate IRBs and the University Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedPhysical inactivity, sedentary behavior, obesity
InterventionParticipants were randomized to the Usual Break (control group), Computer Prompt, or Booster Break condition. The Usual Break condition included usual or typical work break practices and behaviors. The two interventions were developed to be consistent with the WHO Healthy Workplace Framework and Model. The individualized Computer Prompt condition was designed to interrupt prolonged sitting time by introducing 3-minute breaks, 5 times per day. The group-based Booster Break condition was a peer-led, once-a-day, 15-minute PA session that guides employees through a series of stretching, strengthening, and aerobic movements followed by a brief meditation.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measure1. Lipid profile
2. Blood pressure
3. Height
4. Weight
5. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
6. Pedometer readings

Measures were taken at baseline and immediately after the intervention (i.e after 6 months)
Secondary outcome measuresPhysical activity mediators and employee and organizational psychosocial constructs: self-report assessments at baseline and immediately after the intervention (i.e after 6 months)
Overall study start date09/01/2009
Completion date09/01/2013

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Healthy volunteer
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants3 clusters, 5 departments in each cluster, 5 to 15 individuals in each department
Key inclusion criteria1. Participants’ jobs required sitting for at least 5 hours per day
2. English proficiency
3. Full-time employment [35–40 hours/week]
4. Age >17 years
5. No physician-limited physical activity
Key exclusion criteria1. Physician prohibited physical activity
2. Part-time employees
Date of first enrolment09/01/2009
Date of final enrolment09/01/2012

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • United States of America

Study participating centre

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
School of Public Health
CHPPR
7000 Fannin Street
Suite 2670
Houston
TX 77030
United States of America

Sponsor information

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
University/education

7000 Fannin Street
Suite 2670
Houston
TX 77030
United States of America

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03gds6c39

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Institutes of Health
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
Institutos Nacionales de la Salud, US National Institutes of Health, NIH
Location
United States of America

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination plan
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article feasibility study results 01/08/2010 Yes No
Other publications participants' perspectives 01/06/2013 Yes No
Results article results 17/11/2016 Yes No

Editorial Notes

25/09/2017: Publication reference added.