Identifying optimal sit-stand recommendations for office workers with low back pain

Aims:

You are invited to take part in this research project testing the impact of two sit-stand recommendations on low back pain (LBP). You can participate in this study if you:

• have low back pain,
• are a predominantly desk-based worker at the University of Queensland who uses a sit-stand desk or workstation,
• work at least 0.6 FTE,
• are not pregnant,
• do not have a medical condition that limits your ability to stand,
• do not have allergies to adhesive tape such as Hypafix and Opsite

What is involved:

Should you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to:

• Use your sit-stand desk or workstation as prescribed by the research team for 3 months.
• Provide information on your low back pain each day for 1 week before starting the study, during the study for 1 week (at week 2) and after the end of the study for 1 week (at 3 months) via an app or self-report diary.
• Wear an activity monitor (24 × 43 × 5 mm; 10 g) on the front of the right thigh for 7 days (24 hours per day) before the intervention, during (2 weeks) and after the intervention (3 months). The small lightweight monitor is attached using a hypoallergenic adhesive waterproof patch. The monitor will be used to collect data on your sitting, standing and stepping time. It will not collect any data on your location. You will be asked to report your wake and sleep times, work times, and monitor removals via an app or self-report diary. A research assistant will visit you in your office to show you how to use the monitor, and provide you with written instructions for its use.
• Provide information about yourself (e.g. age, education, job category), your LBP, pain in any other body parts (e.g. shoulder, neck), and your work environment before starting the study and after end of the study (at 3 months) in an online survey. The online survey will take approximately 25-30 minutes to complete.
• Provide information on whether you thought the intervention was acceptable and satisfactory at 3 months only.

Some participants will also be asked to:

• Participate in a telephone interview to talk more about the study, an example of the type of questions that may be asked is “were there any supporting factors that assisted you in following the recommendation?”

What's in it for me?

We cannot guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from this research; however, possible benefits may include improvements in your low back pain, and a better understanding of how to set up and optimally use your sit-stand work desk. Participants will also receive a $40 gift card upon completion.

How can I volunteer or find out more?

People interested in participating or learning more about the study can contact Charlotte Brakenridge on (07) 3346 4816 or email c.brakenridge@uq.edu.au.