Reduce workplace sitting trial project
This project aims to nationally trial an evidence-informed intervention to reduce workplace sitting.
Project update
The national launch of the BeUpstanding toolkit occurred in June 2019. The website and toolkit were enhanced in August 2020 and adapted to include a focus on reducing sitting while working from home.
The project adjusted to address working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic with positive engagement. The national implementation project has completed recruitment and is currently analysing data.
Two teams within Comcare trialled the BeUpstanding toolkit to reduce workplace sitting. When the trial completed, there was 34 minutes a day less sitting time at work and a 10% decrease in the amount of risky, prolonged sitting in the group.
The project has now closed. The program showed significant decreases in workplace sitting and achieved a significant reduction in musculoskeletal discomfort.
The BeUpstanding toolkit is free and available to any organisation to use.
Project overview
Project details
Too much sitting (prolonged sedentary behaviour) has been identified as one of the behavioural risk factors for major cancers and other chronic health conditions.
The average desk-based worker sits for over three-quarters of their workday. Even if they exercise regularly, they are at risk if they spend most of the rest of their day sitting. See the evidence on the health consequences of long periods of sitting.
The BeUpstanding toolkit and program is designed to raise awareness and build a supportive culture to create a workplace where sitting less and moving more is the norm.
Research project title
The working title of this research project is ‘National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) partnership project: National implementation trial of evidence-informed workplace sitting reduction intervention’.
Project participants
Comcare is a project participant.
Project lead
- University of Queensland
Other organisations involved
- Baker IDI
- Safe Work Australia
- VicHealth
- National Health Foundation WA
- Office of Industrial Relations QLD
- Curtin University
- Deakin University.
Findings and reports
- National implementation trial of an evidence-informed workplace sitting reduction intervention
- Supporting Workers to Sit Less and Move More Through the Web-Based BeUpstanding Program: Protocol for a Single-Arm, Repeated Measures Implementation StudyNational implementation trial of an evidence-informed workplace sitting reduction intervention (researchdata.edu.au)
- Benefits of BeUpstanding for musculoskeletal disorders infographic
(PDF, 471.6 KB)
Resources
- BeUpstanding website has resources and research on the benefits of reducing sedentary time.
