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. 2023 Sep;33(3):550-569.
doi: 10.1007/s10926-023-10093-8. Epub 2023 Feb 27.

A Systematic Review of Workplace Physical Activity Coaching

A Gawlik  1 , J Lüdemann  2 , A Neuhausen  3 , C Zepp  2 , F Vitinius  3 , J Kleinert  2
Affiliations

A Systematic Review of Workplace Physical Activity Coaching

A Gawlik et al. J Occup Rehabil. 2023 Sep.

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.

Keywords: Coaching; Health intervention; Physical activity; Sedentary behavior; Workplace.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this review.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow Chart of the study selection process. Note. aRecords were manually removed by digital object identifier (doi), abstract (ab), title (ti), author (au)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Overview of types of channels used, duration of interventions, and total number of interactions. Note. Total number of interactions = the highest number on the reported range of interactions between coach and coachee
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Overview of Risk of Bias of Randomized Controlled Studies by Domains
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Overview of Risk of Bias of Non-Randomized Controlled Studies by Domains
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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