Effectiveness of a multi-component intervention to promote physical activity among Japanese remote workers: a pilot open-label randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Remote work (i.e., teleworking) may adversely affect physical activity (PA) among workers, while no strategies have been effectively implemented to curb this issue. We aimed to test whether a multi-component intervention program could promote the PA of remote workers. METHODS: This study was an 8-week pilot open-label randomized controlled trial. Fifty-one participants (19 women) aged 23-58 years were recruited via an information technology company in Tokyo, Japan, and randomly assigned to the control (n = 26) or intervention (n = 25) group. The intervention group was provided a multi-component intervention that comprised individual (lecture, print material, goal setting, feedback, and posters), socio-cultural (supportive atmosphere and team building), and organizational (encouraging message from an executive) strategies. The control group only received posters. The primary outcome was an 8-week change in objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). The secondary outcomes were changes in light PA, moderate PA, vigorous PA, steps, and sedentary time. We also conducted sub-domain analyses divided into working and non-working days. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in MVPA changes between the two groups. However, the intervention group showed significant improvement in light PA by +14.0 min/day [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7 to 26.2]. Sub-domain analyses also showed no significant differences in MVPA changes between the two groups. However, MVPA in the intervention group significantly increased by +9.4 min/day [95% CI, 2.5 to 16.2] in working days. CONCLUSION: The present multi-component intervention was feasible for remote workers, while some revisions are necessary to enhance the effect size. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000046638).