400864 Research Methods Assessment 2 — Autumn 2021

Resendiz et al. (2019) short answers

1. Abstract

Treatment Group: An adjustable standing desktop;

Control Group: Maintained their regular standard work desk.

2. Introduction

Sedentary behaviour, along with limited physical activity for prolonged periods have

been associated with adverse health outcomes, and standing desks have grown in

popularity as a way to reduce long periods of sitting. This study was conducted by

Resendiz et al. to explore the impact of a six-month standing desk intervention on

overweight hospital employees who self-reported sedentary behaviours of six or

more hours per workday.

3. Methods

 All participants had baseline height, weight, and waist circumference

measurements completed.

 All participants reported sitting for a minimum of six hours (360 minutes)

during an average eight-hour workday

 Participants in the intervention group additionally completed a workplace

satisfaction survey and a three-day diet recall form during initial study

enrolment.

 Participants were administered a pre-and post- installation survey evaluating

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 400864 Research Methods Assessment 2 — Autumn 2021

personal health/physical activity goals and standing desk satisfaction.

 At the end of the six-month period, the workplace satisfaction survey, height,

weight, and waist circumference were repeated for all participants.

 Self-reported and objective measures of sedentary time during an eight hour

workday were captured for a baseline and intervention period.

 Changes in health outcomes and workplace satisfaction were assessed

after six months.

 Paired t-tests were used to assess changes over time in BMI and waist

circumference for both the control and intervention groups.

4. Results

 Self-recorded sedentary behaviour decreased by 25% after six months,

though no changes in health outcomes were observed.

 At the 3-month intervention period, a comparison of self-reported daily

average was taken. It was found that standing times were over-estimated

by 10% in the intervention group (compared to accelerometer recordings).

 The intervention group reported higher levels of satisfaction with comfort,

customizability, and overall personal workplace.

 Statistical significance was reported, but Analysis of covariance did not find

a significant group difference for mean BMI and waist circumference at six

months, adjusted for baseline levels (p = 0.729 and p = 0.856, respectively).

 The number of respondents who indicated they were “extremely satisfied”

with the comfort of the adjustable desks and overall satisfaction with
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 400864 Research Methods Assessment 2 — Autumn 2021

personal workplace” increased from 6% prior to the installation of the

standing desk to over 67% at the six-month post installation mark.

5. Discussion

Coming into the study, the authors assumed that with no other changes in behaviour,

it was expected that some weight-associated metrics (BMI, weight loss) would be

improved among the intervention group. However, they found that there was not a

significant increase in positive health outcomes and they put this down to their limited

ability to control confounding factors such as diet (which was also found in other

similar studies referenced throughout the discussion). They also discuss other

studies that used body fat percentage as a metric, are more consistent in their ability

to demonstrate the relationship between sedentary behaviour and obesity compared

to the metrics used in this one.

Resendiz et al round out the discussion by writing that due to the relatively low cost

nature, minimal footprint, and improvements in user satisfaction observed in this

study, it is worthy of more in depth studies to help optimize workstation design and

alter institutional policy to achieve lasting reductions in sedentary behaviour.

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