. 2019 Feb 1;22(5):942–955. doi: 10.1017/S1368980018003750

Table 3.

Limitations from previous research and recommendations for the future (high- and medium-quality studies only)

Limitations from previous interventions	∙ Low participation rates⁽ ¹¹ ^, ¹² ⁾ and high attrition rates⁽ ¹⁹ ⁾ ∙ Lack of thorough description of intervention content and delivery⁽ ⁹ ^, ¹⁵ ^, ¹⁸ ⁾ ∙ Self-reported diet measures may have introduced bias and impact on validity of results⁽ ⁵ ^, ¹³ ^, ²⁰ ⁾ ∙ Evidence supported that workplace interventions provided benefits in the short term⁽ ⁴ ^, ¹⁶ ^, ²⁰ ⁾; however, information on long-term benefits was missing⁽ ¹ ^, ¹¹ ^, ¹⁵ ^, ¹⁹ ⁾ ∙ Selection bias in studies (i.e. self-selected volunteers rather than the whole workplace) that may have skewed results⁽ ¹¹ ^, ¹³ ⁾ ∙ Lack of cost-saving evaluation reported in studies⁽ ¹⁴ ^, ²⁰ ⁾
Recommendations for future interventions	Designing interventions ∙ Obtain management support and commitment as this is key for intervention success⁽ ⁸ ^, ¹⁶ ^, ¹⁹ ⁾ ∙ Maximise participation rates and intervention adherence⁽ ¹¹ ^, ¹² ^, ¹⁶ ⁾ ∙ Involve employees in planning, implementation and management⁽ ¹¹ ^, ¹⁶ ⁾ ∙ Plan for a longer study duration⁽ ¹¹ ⁾; recommendations ranged from at least 6 months⁽ ¹⁹ ^, ²¹ ⁾ to 12 months⁽ ¹ ^, ⁹ ⁾ ∙ Develop intervention based on an underlying behaviour change theory and explain reasoning⁽ ⁹ ^– ¹¹ ⁾ ∙ Intervene at multiple levels (e.g. environment and individual), utilise the social and organizational environment in work for greater impact, and develop the study tailored to the workplace context and the population⁽ ¹ ^, ³ ^, ¹¹ ^, ¹³ ^, ¹⁹ ⁾ ∙ Increase the availability of healthy options at work⁽ ¹¹ ^, ¹⁵ ^, ¹⁶ ⁾ ∙ Include multiple face-to-face contacts⁽ ¹⁴ ^, ¹⁹ ⁾ ∙ Address multiple behaviours⁽ ¹⁶ ⁾ v. diet-only interventions⁽ ¹⁰ ^, ¹² ⁾
	Evaluating interventions ∙ Carry out detailed process evaluation, using a mixed-methods approach (i.e. qualitative and quantitative evaluation) to report outcomes⁽ ¹ ^, ³ ^, ⁹ ⁾
	Reporting interventions ∙ Report objective measures such as diet and health biomarkers (e.g. urine, blood)⁽ ¹ ^, ²¹ ⁾ or actual purchasing of items when canteen changes took place⁽ ⁵ ⁾ and cost-effectiveness (e.g. absenteeism, productivity, presenteeism, health-care costs)⁽ ¹ ^, ³ ⁾ ∙ Report adequately and in detail the content delivered⁽ ⁹ ^, ¹⁵ ^, ¹⁸ ⁾