Efficacy of a group-based coaching intervention on office workers’ leisure-time physical activity
Oscar Årzén, Andreas Ivarsson, Katarina AiliObjective:
The objectives of this study were to examine the efficacy of a group-based coaching intervention on office workers’ leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), to identify potential differences in effects based on age, education, baseline physical activity status (BPAS) and gender, and to determine perceived satisfaction with the intervention.
Design:
The study used a single-group pre- and post-test design with post-tests conducted 8 weeks from baseline. Thirty-nine office workers were enrolled in the study, and 35 were included in the analysis.
Setting:
The intervention was conducted at six workplaces located in southern Sweden.
Method:
The Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire was used to measure LTPA, and a five-item questionnaire was used to identify perceived satisfaction with the intervention. A repeated measures ANOVA was conducted for the statistical analysis.
Results:
The mean perceived satisfaction with the intervention was 20.1, where 25 was the highest possible score. LTPA increased significantly from pre- to post-test (
Conclusions:
This brief coaching intervention was well received and associated with increased LTPA among office workers, with smaller increases observed among older participants. However, causal conclusions cannot be drawn due to study limitations, and future randomised controlled trials with objective PA measures are needed.