Promoting walking among office employees using pedometers and e-mail messages

ISRCTN	ISRCTN79432107
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN79432107
Secondary identifying numbers	108098

Submission date: 15/12/2011
Registration date: 12/01/2012
Last edited: 29/08/2014

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 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

Contact information

Dr Minna Aittasalo
Scientific

PO Box 30
Tampere
33501
Finland

Phone	+358 3 282 9267
Email	minna.aittasalo@uta.fi

Study information

Study design	Multicentre randomised controlled study
Primary study design	Interventional
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)	Other
Study type	Quality of life
Participant information sheet	Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific title	Promoting walking among office employees ― evaluation of a randomized controlled intervention with pedometers and e-mail messages
Study objectives	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(s)	Ethics Committee, UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland, 01/09/2009
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	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
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 study start date	17/03/2009
Completion date	05/07/2010

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Sex	Both
Target number of participants	350
Key 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
Key exclusion criteria	Does not meet inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment	17/03/2009
Date of final enrolment	05/07/2010

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Finland

Study participating centre

PO Box 30

Tampere
33501
Finland

Sponsor information

The UKK Institute (Finland)
Research organisation

c/o Dr Minna Aittasalo
Centre for Health Promotion Research
PO Box 30
Tampere
33501
Finland

Phone	+358 3 282 9111
Email	uktiedotus@uta.fi
Website	http://www.ukkinstituutti.fi/en

Funders

Funder type

Government

The Finnish Work Environment Fund (Finland) ref: 108098

No information available

Juho Vainio Foundation [Juho Vainion Säätiö] (Finland)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination plan	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Results article	results	06/06/2012		Yes	No