title: Effect of a novel two-desk sit-to-stand workplace (ACTIVE OFFICE) on sitting time, performance and physiological parameters: protocol for a randomized control trial.
abstract: Prolonged sitting is ubiquitous in modern society and linked to several diseases. Height-adjustable desks are being used to decrease worksite based sitting time (ST). Single-desk sit-to-stand workplaces exhibit small ST reduction potential and short-term loss in performance. The aim of this paper is to report the study design and methodology of an ACTIVE OFFICE trial.
  
  
  
  The study was a 1-year three-arm, randomized controlled trial in 18 healthy Austrian office workers. Allocation was done via a regional health insurance, with data collection during Jan 2014 - March 2015. Participants were allocated to either an intervention or control group. Intervention group subjects were provided with traditional or two-desk sit-to-stand workstations in either the first or the second half of the study, while control subjects did not experience any changes during the whole study duration. Sitting time and physical activity (IPAQ-long), cognitive performance (text editing task, Stroop-test, d2R test of attention), workload perception (NASA-TLX) and physiological parameters (salivary cortisol, heartrate variability and body weight) were measured pre- and post-intervention (23 weeks after baseline) for intervention and control periods. Postural changes and sitting/standing time (software logger) were recorded at the workplace for the whole intervention period.
  
  
  
  This study evaluates the effects of a novel two-desk sit-to-stand workplace on sitting time, physical parameters and work performance of healthy office based workers. If the intervention proves effective, it has a great potential to be implemented in regular workplaces to reduce diseases related to prolonged sitting.
  
  
  
  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02825303 , July 2016 (retrospectively registered).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Garnisonstrasse 21, 4020, Linz, Austria. bernhard.schwartz@univie.ac.at.|Department of Sport Science, University of Vienna, Auf der Schmelz 6, 1150, Vienna, Austria. bernhard.schwartz@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9462-4716
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Science & Technology, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA.
authors.forename: Jay M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kapellusch
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Garnisonstrasse 21, 4020, Linz, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schrempf
authors.affiliation: Media Interactive Lab, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Softwarepark 11, 4232, Hagenberg, Austria.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Probst
authors.affiliation: Media Interactive Lab, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Softwarepark 11, 4232, Hagenberg, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Vienna, Auf der Schmelz 6, 1150, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria; D001835:Body Weight; D003071:Cognition; D003201:Computers; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D010465:Perception; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012107:Research Design; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cognitive performance; Concentration; Office; Postural changes; Reaction time; Sitting; Standing; Stroop-test; Workload; d2R-test of attention