Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sedentary behaviors (SBs) have been recognized as a risk factor for physical and mental health. This study primarily assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-based sedentariness reduction intervention to reduce SBs among office workers and explored changes in SBs and health outcomes compared to a waitlist control group. STUDY DESIGN: Feasibility randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Thirty-eight office workers in Hong Kong, sitting over 5.5 h per workday prior to recruitment, were randomly assigned to a TCM-based intervention group (n = 19) or a waitlist control group (n = 19). The intervention included three workshops (on mind-body activities including dantian breathing, Baduanjin and stretching, acupressure related to stress management, and strategies to combat environmental factors related to SBs) over 2 weeks and another two-week period of assisted self-practice. Feasibility was based on recruitment, retention, adherence, assessment completion, adverse events, and acceptability. Intervention efficacy on sitting time at work was assessed using ActiGraph wGT3X-BT® at baseline (T1), after 4-week intervention (T2), and 4 weeks follow-up (T3). Other outcomes, including stress, quality of life, and sleep quality, were also explored. RESULTS: The feasibility criteria of the study were all fulfilled. Rates of recruitment, retention, adherence, and assessment completion all exceeded 80%, and no adverse event was reported. Participants in the intervention group reported high satisfaction with the program. Preliminary data indicated a reduction in total sitting time in the intervention group compared to the control group, with medium effect size after intervention (mean change = -21.61 min, 95% CI: [-92.43, 4.64], Hedge's g = -0.627). Among participants in the intervention group, perceived stress was reduced from baseline to T2 (mean change = -3.05, 95% CI: [-4.94, -1.16], Hedge's g = -0.745). No meaningful differences were observed in other health outcomes within or between groups. CONCLUSION: The TCM-based sedentariness reduction intervention demonstrated feasibility, high acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in reducing SBs of office workers. A full scale randomized controlled trial is needed for conclusive findings. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/home, identifier: ChiCTR2300079230.