Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The purpose of this study is to evaluate a 6-month intervention to promote office employees walking using pedometers and e-mail messages.
Who can participate?
Office-based worksites and their employees are recruited to the study. Insufficiently physically active employees are selected for participation with a questionnaire.
What does the study involve?
Eligible employees are randomly allocated to one of two groups: either the pedometer group or the comparison group. The pedometer group participates in one group meeting and uses a pedometer and a logbook to monitor and set goals for increasing steps. In addition, pedometer group receives one email message per month from the occupational health care unit providing encouragement and tips for increasing the steps. The participants work towards increasing their steps during working and non-working time. Although moderate-intensity walking is emphasized the participants choose their own ways of increasing the steps. During the 6-month intervention the comparison group only completes the follow-up questionnaires, which will be delivered to all the participants at 2, 6 and 12 months. After the intervention the comparison group receives pedometers and the same information as the pedometer group.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants were given a pedometer, step-log and walking leaflet free of charge to support the increase of walking. They also participated in one group meeting informing about the benefits of physical activity and walking. Walking causes very few adverse effects and if they arise, they are minimal.
Where is the study run from?
The study was run exclusively from the UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study ran from March 2009 to July 2010.
Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund and Juho Vainion Säätiö (Finland).
Who is the main contact?
Dr Minna Aittasalo
minna.aittasalo@uta.fi
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Minna Aittasalo
ORCID ID
Contact details
PO Box 30
Tampere
33501
Finland
+358 3 282 9267
minna.aittasalo@uta.fi
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
108098
Study information
Scientific title
Promoting walking among office employees ― evaluation of a randomized controlled intervention with pedometers and e-mail messages
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Does the low-cost intervention enhance different types of walking and decrease sedentary time during the working and non-working day and is the study feasible?
Ethics approval
Ethics Committee, UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland, 01/09/2009
Study design
Multicentre randomised controlled study
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
Promotion of walking in workplace
Intervention
Participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups:
1. Pedometer group: one group meeting, pedometer use, step-logs and an e-mail message from occupational health care once a month
2. Comparison group: only follow-up questionnaires during the intervention but pedometers and all the information are provided after the intervention in a separate meeting
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
The following was measured using the modified International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ):
1. Walking at work
2. Walking for transportation
3. Walking for leisure
4. Walking stairs
5. Sedentary time during working and non-working day
Measured at baseline and followed up at 2, 6 and 12 months using questionnaires
Secondary outcome measures
No secondary outcome measures
Overall trial start date
17/03/2009
Overall trial end date
05/07/2010
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Office-based work
2. Ability to use email
3. No physical restrictions for physical activity
4. Insufficiently physically active according to the current physical activity recommendations
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
350
Participant exclusion criteria
Does not meet inclusion criteria
Recruitment start date
17/03/2009
Recruitment end date
05/07/2010
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Finland
Trial participating centre
PO Box 30
Tampere
33501
Finland
Sponsor information
Organisation
The UKK Institute (Finland)
Sponsor details
c/o Dr Minna Aittasalo
Centre for Health Promotion Research
PO Box 30
Tampere
33501
Finland
+358 3 282 9111
uktiedotus@uta.fi
Sponsor type
Research organisation
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
The Finnish Work Environment Fund (Finland) ref: 108098
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
Juho Vainio Foundation [Juho Vainion Säätiö] (Finland)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
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 results in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22672576
Publication citations
-
Results
Aittasalo M, Rinne M, Pasanen M, Kukkonen-Harjula K, Vasankari T, Promoting walking among office employees - evaluation of a randomized controlled intervention with pedometers and e-mail messages., BMC Public Health, 2012, 12, 403, doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-403.