Methods | Random allocation by cluster Unblinded Study duration: 6 days Dropouts: 23% Location: USA Recruitment: employees with clerical positions were identified through University directory. |
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Participants |
Population: full‐time employees (employed > 20 years) engaged in a sedentary occupation Intervention: stand group: 29 participants; step group: 31 participants Demographics: mean age: stand: 42.3 (SD 11.6) years, step: 46.1 (SD 10.5) years 60% were females in stand group and 75% were females in step group BMI: stand: 29.3 (SD 7.3) kg/m², step: 27.7 (SD 7.4) kg/m² |
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Interventions |
Duration of intervention: 3 days Intervention: computer‐based versus wrist worn prompts |
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Outcomes |
Outcome name, measurement time/tool (units of measurement) Total sitting time (minutes/workday), duration of longest sitting bout (minutes/workday), number of sitting bouts/workday of 30 min or more, standing time (minutes/workday), stepping time, sit/stand transitions measured by accelerometer‐inclinometers. |
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Notes | The Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeastern Wisconsin supported this research. | |
Risk of bias | ||
Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | Random number generation was used to assign participants to either the stand group or step group. |
Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Low risk | Assignments were written out and placed in sealed numbered envelopes. |
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | High risk | The envelopes were opened sequentially by a researcher; participants were informed of group assignment. |
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Not reported |
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | High risk | 18 participants were excluded, 9 each from stand group and step group. Reasons were dropout, equipment malfunction and not wearing monitor properly. The authors did not conduct intention‐to‐treat analysis. |
Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Low risk | All outcomes mentioned in the methods section were reported. The study protocol was not available. |
Baseline comparability/ imbalance | Low risk | No baseline differences were found between the two groups for age, body mass, height or BMI. There was however difference in gender with the Stand group having 60% females and the Step group having 75%. |
Validity of outcome measure | Low risk | The accelerometer is a valid instrument for the measurement of sitting time. |