How Can a Psychoeducational Session Alter the Results for a 3-Month Sit-Stand Desk-Based Intervention? A Secondary Analysis From the Stand up for Healthy Aging

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of a 3-month sit-stand desk (SSD) intervention preceded by one psychoeducational-session (PE-0), against a group that used the SSD for 3 months but had the psychoeducational session 6 months earlier (PE-6). METHOD: A two-arm (1:1) cluster randomized trial with 20 office workers. Outcomes were measured via ActivPAL4-inclinometer. Repeated-measures analysis of variance analyzed group differences, adjusting for several covariates, with significance at 5%. RESULTS: A time*group interaction for sitting-time (ST) ( P = 0.006) was found, where PE-0 ( n = 10; 48.5 ± 5.7 y) reduced ST by 44.20 min/d, while the PE-6 ( n = 10; 45.8 ± 9.4 y) reduced ST by 33.20 min/d. A significant time*group interaction was also found for prolonged ST ( P = 0.040), with the PE-0 reducing by 27.60 min/d, while the PE-6 only reduced by 5.70 min/d. CONCLUSIONS: When the aim is to increase standing-time and reduce prolonged ST, having the psychoeducational-session right before the intervention may potentiate the intervention.