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Table 1 Summary of studies meeting the inclusion criteria

From: Describing workplace interventions aimed to improve health of staff in hospital settings – a systematic review

Study

Sample size

Country

Target population

Intervention components

Intervention length

Follow-up duration

Outcome measures

Findings (Between-group differences)

Randomised Control Trial

Barene [18]

2014

118

Norway

Female nurses and nursing assistants, however participation offered to other hospital employees

IG: Group 1, soccer; Group 2, zumba

40 weeks

Baseline

VO2 max

– Soccer, + Zumba

40 weeks

Blood pressure

CG: No intervention.

 

Weight

BMI

Body fat

– Soccer+ Zumba

– Soccer+ Zumba

+

Hewitt [38]

2008

20

United Kingdom

Staff from cytology laboratory

IG: Progressive aerobic exercise program, 4 times a week for 8 weeks and to continue without further advice for another 4 weeks.

12 weeks

Baseline

Blood pressure

4 weeks

BMI

8 weeks

VO2max at 2 min

+

CG: Maintained their current physical activity level.

12 weeks

VO2max at 4 min

+

Biological markers (fasting glucose, total cholesterol)

Kullgren [39]

2013

105

United States of America

Hospital employees

IG: 24 weeks of monthly weigh ins. Group 1, individual financial incentive of $100 per month; Group 2, group financial incentive of $500 per month (split between group members who hit their target).

36 weeks

Baseline

PA in last seven days

4 weeks

Restraint in eating

+

8 weeks

Weight loss

BMI

+

+

12 weeks

Other weight loss mediators

16 weeks

20 weeks

36 weeks

CG: Website access.

Lemon [40]

2010

806

United States of America

Employees working at least 20 h/week

IG: Social marketing campaign (newsletter, website, educational materials), StairWELL campaign, physical activity challenges, nutritional signage, healthy menu options.

2 years

Baseline 12 months 24 months

BMI

Perceptions of organisational commitment to employee health

+

Perception of employee normative behaviours

CG: No intervention

  

Low [41]

2015

57

United States of America

Female health care workers

IG: Weekly communication on goal setting and, overcoming goals.

6 months

Baseline

6 months

1 year

Days per week of exercise

+/−

Readiness to change

Triglycerides

+

CG: Offered classes on (weight/diet, stress, exercise and smoking cessation), gym access and organised walks

Exercise intensity

+/−

Weight loss

+/−

Stress

+/−

Lowe [42]

2010

96

United States of America

Hospital employees

IG: A pricing incentive to purchase low-energy-density foods and education about nutrition in 4 information sessions.

3 months

Baseline

1 month

2 months

3 months

6 months

12 months

Energy intake

Nutrient intake

Food selection

CG: 10 new low-energy-density foods and labelling of food at lunch.

Food intake outside of cafeteria

Weight

BMI

Cholesterol

Matsugaki [43]

2017

30

Japan

Female nurses

IG: Supervised aerobic and resistance training (24 sessions total).

12 weeks

Baseline

VO2max

+

12 weeks

Muscle strength

+  180 deg/sec knee extensions

CG: Voluntary exercise.

Mental health

BMI

Biochemical data

+ reactive oxygen metabolites

Ostbye [44]

2015

550

United States of America

Employees with obesity

IG: Extensive behavioural coaching.

14 months

Baseline

Weight

BMI

14 months

Fruit and vegetable servings

+/−

CG: Educational intervention.

% energy from fat

+

MVPA

Sedentary time

Exercise and nutrition goals and planning

Sugar sweetened beverages intake

Palumbo [45]

2012

11

United States of America

Nurses > 45 years old

IG: Tai Chi classes once a week, 10 min practice unsupervised for at least 4 days.

15 weeks

Baseline

Workplace injury

+/−

15 weeks

Time off

+/−

Musculoskeletal injury

Physical and mental well-being

+ functional reach

CG: No classes.

Work productivity

+/−

Stenner [46]

2020

265

Germany

Middle-aged sedentary women working at a hospital

IG: Endurance training exercise intervention

6 month

Baseline

6 months

Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak)

Body weight

Body fat %

BMI

Work Ability Index total score

PA total score

PA sports score

+

+

+

+ (item 2 only)

+

+

CG: No intervention

Strijk [47]

2012

730

Netherlands

Hospital employees working at least 16 h/week

IG: A vitality exercise program, provision of free fruit and three visits to a Personal Vitality Coach.

6 months

Baseline

6 months

PA

+

MVPA

Fruit intake

+

CG: Written information about a healthy lifestyle

VO2max

Mental health

Need for recovery

+

Thorndike [48]

2012

330

United States of America

Hospital employees

IG: Internet website about goal setting, self-monitoring and behavioural support

1 year

Baseline

Weight loss

BMI

+/−

+/−

10 weeks

Fruit and vegetable servings

+/−

12 months

Fatty food intake

+/−

CG: No intervention

 

Sugary food intake

+/−

 

PA

+/−

Controlled Before-After

Borg [49]

2010

332

Australia

Inactive health service employees

IG: CG intervention plus four additional newsletters

12 months

Baseline

Walking minutes per week,

12 months

MVPA minutes per week

+

CG: ‘Step by Step’ guidebook, diary cards, pedometer, brochure.

PA per week

Proportion meeting public health recommendations

Hamm [50]

2019

38

Canada

Hospital employees

IG: Physical activity counselling plus tailored exercise prescription

4 months

Baseline

2 months

4 months

BMI

Accelerometry

Overall fitness score

Grip strength

Push-ups

Leg power

Balance

Trunk endurance

Sit and reach

+

+

+

CG: Physical activity counselling

LaCaille [13]

2016

500

United States of America

Hospital employees

IG: Pedometer distribution, StairWELL campaign, labelling all foods in worksite cafeteria and vending machines, traffic light system, influential employees, persuasive messaging throughout the hospital.

12 months

Baseline

6 months

BMI

Weight loss

12 months

Waist circumference

Physical activity

+

Fruit and vegetable servings

+

Knowledge about energy balance

Perceptions of employer’s commitment to well-being

+

CG: No intervention

 

Sallon [51]

2017

215

Israel

Hospital employees

IG: CCG intervention (Cognitive, somatic, emotive-expressive, dynamic-interactive and hands-on). 75 h of instruction in 30 weekly sessions and 1-day workshop.

8 months

Baseline

Personal accomplishment

8 months

Perceived stress

 

Burnout

+

CG: No intervention

 

Job-related tension

+

 

Work productivity

+

 

General health and mood

+

Yuan [52]

2009

90

Taiwan

Nurses

IG: Exercised on stair-stepper for 20-30 min per day (70–85% max heart rate), at least three times a week.

3 months

Baseline

BMI

+

3 months

Grip strength

+

 

Flexibility

+

 

Abdominal muscle durability

+

CG: Performed usual work habits.

 

Back muscle durability

+

 

Cardiopulmonary durability

+

 

Blood pressure

Cross-sectional

Geaney [14]

2011

100

Ireland

Hospital employees consuming at least one meal in the hospital staff canteen daily

IG: Catering intervention, salt removed from tables, nutritional information display in cafeteria and encouraged to eat healthy foods.

2 years

Over the 2 years

Energy intake

+

Fat intake

+

Salt intake

+

Sugar intake

+

CG: No intervention.

  1. Notes: IG intervention group; CG control group; PA physical activity; BMI body mass index; +, a positive significant outcome; (i.e. intervention was significantly effective on the outcome); +/−, non-significant marginal change or no p-value reported; −, no significant effect on the outcome (i.e. intervention was not effective on the outcome)