Multicomponent occupational lifestyle intervention to improve physical activity, musculoskeletal health, and work environment among Japanese teleworkers (TELEWORK study): protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Jihoon Kim, Yoshio Nakata, Masahiko Gosho, Takahiko Yoshimoto, Satoru Kanamori, Aya Wada, Rumi Tsukinoki, Naoki Kagi, Wataru Umishio, Ryo Asaoka, Tomoko Shiomitsu, Kayo Kawamata, Natsumi Yoshioka, Kaori Yoshiba, Yuko Kai

Journal: Journal of occupational health 2025;67(1):

PMID: 40100037

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES

Teleworking from home was widespread during the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic. This working practice is expected to maintain popularity among employers and employees. Compared with in-person workers, teleworkers tend to be less physically active and have more musculoskeletal pain. Interventions specific to reducing health risks among teleworkers have not been identified. This study will examine the effects of an occupational lifestyle intervention encompassing 3 components: physical activity promotion, musculoskeletal health, and work environment improvement.

METHODS

This cluster randomized trial will have a target sample size of 500 participants. The target population is healthy adults aged 18-64 years who telework at least once per week. Randomization will be conducted on a stratified block basis for clusters of 20 to 100 individuals within the recruited companies. The intervention period will be 12 weeks and comprise individual (online lectures, feedback, and periodic email messages), sociocultural (team building through step competition), physical (poster and tabletop pop-up), and organizational (encouraging message from an executive) strategies. The intervention group will be compared with a wait-list control group. The primary outcome will be the number of steps taken, as assessed by an accelerometer, and the secondary outcomes will be musculoskeletal pain and a telecommuting environment. The study protocol was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (ID: UMIN000053861) (https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr.cgi?function=brows&action=brows&recptno=R000061478&type=summary&language=J).

RESULTS

Study enrollment began in March 2024, and the intervention will be completed by March 2025.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study are expected to provide helpful data for promoting healthy teleworking practices.

Address: Physical Fitness Research Institute, Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare, Tokyo 192-0001, Japan.; Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, Japan.; Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan.; Department of Hygiene, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.; Department of Public Health Nursing, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.; Department of Architecture and Building Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan.; Department of Public Health Nursing, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.; School of Nursing, The International University of Kagoshima, Kagoshima 891-0197, Japan.; Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association, Tokyo 108-0014, Japan.; Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.

DOI: 10.1093/joccuh/uiaf014

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MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Young Adult, COVID-19, Exercise, Health Promotion, Japan, Life Style, Musculoskeletal Pain, Occupational Health, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Teleworking, Working Conditions, Workplace, East Asian People