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Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 3/2023

Open Access 27-02-2023

A Systematic Review of Workplace Physical Activity Coaching

Authors: A. Gawlik, J. Lüdemann, A. Neuhausen, C. Zepp, F. Vitinius, J. Kleinert

Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation | Issue 3/2023

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Abstract

Aim Studies show that about 60 min of moderate physical activity (PA) per day compensate for sitting all day at work. However, the workplace offers an ideal setting for health-promoting interventions such as PA coaching as a person-centered intervention aimed at achieving lasting health behavior changes. Given a good evidence base of health coaching studies in general, this systematic review aims to provide an overview of workplace PA coaching interventions. Methods This review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies published up to July 2021 were considered based on the following inclusion criteria: (1) longitudinal intervention studies, (2) analysis of PA at work, (3) sedentary employees, (4) PA coaching in the workplace as intervention, (5) increasing workplace PA. Results Of 4323 studies found, 14 studies with 17 interventions met inclusion criteria. All 17 interventions indicated an increase in at least one PA outcome. Twelve interventions indicated significant improvements in at least one workplace or total PA outcome. There is a high variation within the different coaching parameters, such as behavior change techniques and communication channels. The study quality showed a moderate to high risk of bias. Conclusions The majority of interventions provided evidence for the effectiveness of workplace PA coaching. Nevertheless, the results are inconclusive with regard to the variety of coaching parameters and thus no general statement can be made about the effectiveness of individual parameters. However, this variety of parameters also leads to a high degree of individualization of workplace PA coaching interventions to increase PA for different groups of employees and different types of workplaces.
Appendix
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Footnotes
1
Some extracted data categories have different terms in the registered protocol. To report the data, more global terms were used in some cases because the data were more heterogeneous than initially thought (occupational group became professional sector, coaching sessions became coaching interactions). In other cases, more precise terms were used for a better understanding (other potential components addressed in coaching became other behaviors potentially addressed in coaching, medium of intervention became communication channel, and type of BCT became name of BCT, transport PA became active transportation).
 
2
The 14 included studies resulted in 17 interventions, since Opdenacker and Boen [60], Ribeiro et al. [61] ), and Tucker et al. [50] each included two intervention groups (e.g. [50]; a. & b.) relevant for this review. When we talk about Sample Characteristics, Study Design, Outcomes and Risk of Bias, we are referring to studies (but list the interventions in the parentheses). In all other paragraphs in the results section, we talk about the 17 interventions.
 
3
In some interventions, workplace PA is measured separately; in other interventions, it is measured as part of the total PA outcomes.
 
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Metadata
Title
A Systematic Review of Workplace Physical Activity Coaching
Authors
A. Gawlik
J. Lüdemann
A. Neuhausen
C. Zepp
F. Vitinius
J. Kleinert
Publication date
27-02-2023
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation / Issue 3/2023
Print ISSN: 1053-0487
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3688
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-023-10093-8

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