Study proves reducing sitting time boosts office staff’s work engagement and wellbeing
Office workers are being urged to ‘stand up for their health’ - with º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and Leicester researchers claiming desk-bound staff need to be more active at work.
It is widely known that sitting down for long periods of time, even for those who do some exercise regularly, can lead to poor health.
Teams from the University of Leicester and º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ wanted to investigate simple solutions to reducing sitting time in the office.
The research, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), found that giving height-adjustable workstations to staff, alongside a brief education seminar, posters and providing feedback on sitting behaviour (i.e., the SMArT Work programme), reduced sitting time and increased standing whilst at work, which resulted in lots of work and wellbeing benefits.
The Stand More AT Work (SMArT Work) study involved 146 office workers from the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust who were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One set of people received the SMArT Work programme and the other group was asked to continue as normal.
After 12 months, participants in the intervention group spent 83 minutes less per day sitting down at work than the control group.
Measures of sitting, standing and movement time were recorded using a small device worn on the thigh. Participants also completed questionnaires on their performance at work, job satisfaction, engagement, musculoskeletal issues, fatigue, wellbeing and sickness absence.
Dr Fehmidah Munir, Reader in Health Psychology from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine East Midlands, said: “For people who work in an office environment, sitting down for most of the day is very common. We know this is bad for their health, but people feel restricted to this posture because of the job and the environment. We have shown that it is possible to significantly reduce the time spent sitting whilst at work with the SMArT Work programme”.
Dr Charlotte Edwardson, Associate Professor from the University of Leicester, said: “Those who received the SMArT Work programme reported improvements in their work performance, work dedication and engagement, quality of life and reduced levels of sickness presenteeism, feelings of fatigue and musculoskeletal issues, such as lower back pain.
“Presenteeism, together with absenteeism, is estimated to cost UK employers more than £30 billion annually. Approximately nine million working days are lost to musculoskeletal problems. So, the SMArT Work programme could help employers make headway into these two issues.”
Dr Sophie O’Connell, Research Associate at Leicester’s Hospitals, said: “In response to the study findings and the fantastic feedback from the participants who received the SMArT Work programme, we are preparing the SMArT Work resources for roll out. The resources will be freely available on the programme website very soon for organisations to access. We want other people to be able to benefit from this programme.”
Judy Queally took part in the study. She said: “Before I started the study I suffered from a back problem. Even having been to my GP and being sent for a couple of x-rays, I still couldn’t get to the bottom of it. Since being part of the SMArT Work study I have the flexibility to stand whenever I want and I can honestly say I have no back problems at all.”
Jo Tyler-Fantom, Deputy Head of Workforce Development at Leicester’s Hospitals said: “The findings of the study are certainly very interesting. As a Trust we will be keeping a close eye on future developments to see how we can integrate its suggestions into our Staff Health and Well-being Strategy.”
The SMArT Work study was funded by the NIHR (project number PR-R5-0213-25004) with support from the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre. It is published today (Thursday 11 October 2018) in the British Medical Journal:
For interviews with Dr Fehmidah Munir contact Judy Wing, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s PR Manager, on +44 (0)1509 228697 or email j.l.wing@lboro.ac.uk
For interviews with Dr Charlotte Edwardson and Dr Sophie O’Connell, and for filming and photography on location at Leicester’s Hospitals, contact Rosalind Moore, Communications Officer, on +44 (0)116 258 4971 or email rosalind.moore@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
The NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is a partnership between University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, the University of Leicester and º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ. It is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
The NIHR Leicester BRC undertakes translational clinical research in priority areas of high disease burden and clinical need. These include cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and lifestyle, obesity and physical activity. There is also a cross-cutting theme for precision medicine. The BRC harnesses the power of experimental science to explore and develop ways to help prevent and treat chronic disease. It brings together 70 highly skilled researchers, 30 of which are at the forefront of clinical services delivery. By having scientists working closely with clinicians, the BRC can deliver research that is relevant to patients and the professionals who treat them. www.leicesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR): improving the health and wealth of the nation through research.
Established by the Department of Health and Social Care, the NIHR:
Funds high quality research to improve health
Trains and supports health researchers
Provides world-class research facilities
Works with the life sciences industry and charities to benefit all
Involves patients and the public at every step
For further information, visit the NIHR website (www.nihr.ac.uk)
This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support and would not have been possible without access to this data. The NIHR recognises and values the role of patient data, securely accessed and stored, both in underpinning and leading to improvements in research and care. Read more: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/our-purpose/principles/patient-data.htm
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2018 QS World University Rankings, top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey and named University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019 and the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2019, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2019. It was also named Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.
It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
Office workers are being urged to ‘stand up for their health’ - with º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and Leicester researchers claiming desk-bound staff need to be more active at work.
It is widely known that sitting down for long periods of time, even for those who do some exercise regularly, can lead to poor health.
Teams from the University of Leicester and º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ wanted to investigate simple solutions to reducing sitting time in the office.
The research, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), found that giving height-adjustable workstations to staff, alongside a brief education seminar, posters and providing feedback on sitting behaviour (i.e., the SMArT Work programme), reduced sitting time and increased standing whilst at work, which resulted in lots of work and wellbeing benefits.
The Stand More AT Work (SMArT Work) study involved 146 office workers from the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust who were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One set of people received the SMArT Work programme and the other group was asked to continue as normal.
After 12 months, participants in the intervention group spent 83 minutes less per day sitting down at work than the control group.
Measures of sitting, standing and movement time were recorded using a small device worn on the thigh. Participants also completed questionnaires on their performance at work, job satisfaction, engagement, musculoskeletal issues, fatigue, wellbeing and sickness absence.
Dr Fehmidah Munir, Reader in Health Psychology from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine East Midlands, said: “For people who work in an office environment, sitting down for most of the day is very common. We know this is bad for their health, but people feel restricted to this posture because of the job and the environment. We have shown that it is possible to significantly reduce the time spent sitting whilst at work with the SMArT Work programme”.
Dr Charlotte Edwardson, Associate Professor from the University of Leicester, said: “Those who received the SMArT Work programme reported improvements in their work performance, work dedication and engagement, quality of life and reduced levels of sickness presenteeism, feelings of fatigue and musculoskeletal issues, such as lower back pain.
“Presenteeism, together with absenteeism, is estimated to cost UK employers more than £30 billion annually. Approximately nine million working days are lost to musculoskeletal problems. So, the SMArT Work programme could help employers make headway into these two issues.”
Dr Sophie O’Connell, Research Associate at Leicester’s Hospitals, said: “In response to the study findings and the fantastic feedback from the participants who received the SMArT Work programme, we are preparing the SMArT Work resources for roll out. The resources will be freely available on the programme website very soon for organisations to access. We want other people to be able to benefit from this programme.”
Judy Queally took part in the study. She said: “Before I started the study I suffered from a back problem. Even having been to my GP and being sent for a couple of x-rays, I still couldn’t get to the bottom of it. Since being part of the SMArT Work study I have the flexibility to stand whenever I want and I can honestly say I have no back problems at all.”
Jo Tyler-Fantom, Deputy Head of Workforce Development at Leicester’s Hospitals said: “The findings of the study are certainly very interesting. As a Trust we will be keeping a close eye on future developments to see how we can integrate its suggestions into our Staff Health and Well-being Strategy.”
The SMArT Work study was funded by the NIHR (project number PR-R5-0213-25004) with support from the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre. It is published today (Thursday 11 October 2018) in the British Medical Journal:
For interviews with Dr Fehmidah Munir contact Judy Wing, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s PR Manager, on +44 (0)1509 228697 or email j.l.wing@lboro.ac.uk
For interviews with Dr Charlotte Edwardson and Dr Sophie O’Connell, and for filming and photography on location at Leicester’s Hospitals, contact Rosalind Moore, Communications Officer, on +44 (0)116 258 4971 or email rosalind.moore@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
The NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is a partnership between University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, the University of Leicester and º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ. It is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
The NIHR Leicester BRC undertakes translational clinical research in priority areas of high disease burden and clinical need. These include cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and lifestyle, obesity and physical activity. There is also a cross-cutting theme for precision medicine. The BRC harnesses the power of experimental science to explore and develop ways to help prevent and treat chronic disease. It brings together 70 highly skilled researchers, 30 of which are at the forefront of clinical services delivery. By having scientists working closely with clinicians, the BRC can deliver research that is relevant to patients and the professionals who treat them. www.leicesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR): improving the health and wealth of the nation through research.
Established by the Department of Health and Social Care, the NIHR:
Funds high quality research to improve health
Trains and supports health researchers
Provides world-class research facilities
Works with the life sciences industry and charities to benefit all
Involves patients and the public at every step
For further information, visit the NIHR website (www.nihr.ac.uk)
This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support and would not have been possible without access to this data. The NIHR recognises and values the role of patient data, securely accessed and stored, both in underpinning and leading to improvements in research and care. Read more: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/our-purpose/principles/patient-data.htm
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2018 QS World University Rankings, top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey and named University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019 and the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2019, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2019. It was also named Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.
It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
