A randomized prospective trial of a worksite intervention program to increase physical activity.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of addressing multiple barriers to physical activity (PA) using interventions at the workplace. DESIGN: The Physical Activity and Lifestyle Study used a randomized controlled trial in which 60 university departments were randomized into five groups. SETTING: Large Southeastern university. SUBJECTS: Physically inactive nonfaculty employees in the participating departments (n = 410) were interviewed five times over 9 months, with 82% completing all surveys. INTERVENTION Departments were randomly assigned to (1) control, (2) gym membership, (3) gym + PA education, (4) gym + time during the workday, and (5) gym + education + time. MEASURES: PA intensity and quantity were measured using the 7-day Physical Activity Recall instrument, with PA then classified as the number of days meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. ANALYSIS: The outcome was modeled with generalized linear mixed model methodology. RESULTS: There was no significant improvement when a group received gym alone compared to the control (Rate Ratio [RR]) 1.22 [.90, 1.67]). However, gym + education, gym + time, and gym + education + time were significantly better than the control (RR 1.51 [1.15, 1.98], RR 1.46 [1.13, 1.88], RR 1.28 [1.01, 1.62]), with improvements sustained over the 9 months. CONCLUSION: Among sedentary adults who had access to indoor exercise facilities, addressing environmental and cognitive barriers simultaneously (i.e., time and education) did not encourage more activity than addressing either barrier alone.