Abstract
ObjectiveShift work is a risk factor for many chronic diseases and has been associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Workplaces have great potential for promoting and supporting behavior change. We conducted a systematic review of group-based lifestyle workplace interventions for shift workers to (i) identify adaptations and intervention components that accommodate shift working and (ii) assess their impact on weight, physical activity, sedentary behavior and healthy eating.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Knowledge, EBSCO and Ovid databases. Using pre-established criteria, independent pairs of researchers conducted the study selection, quality appraisal and data extraction.ResultsIn total, 22 studies on group-based workplace interventions for shift workers were included. Many demonstrated organizational level adaptations, such as flexible delivery times and paying employees’ time for their involvement. Delivery locations near the workplace and management support were other key features. Common intervention components included competitive group activities, individualized goal setting, self-monitoring and feedback, staff involvement in intervention delivery, and incentives. There was moderate evidence for effectiveness on weight and physical activity outcomes, but insufficient evidence for healthy eating outcomes. No interventions focusing on sedentary behavior among shift workers were found.ConclusionCurrent evidence demonstrates that group-based workplace interventions can be effective for supporting shift workers to lose weight and increase physical activity, while further research is needed to change healthy eating and sedentary behaviors. Our findings offer decision support on organizational-level adaptations and intervention components that are important to make interventions that promote healthy lifestyles more accessible to shift workers.
Highlights
Current evidence demonstrates that group-based workplace interventions can be effective for supporting shift workers to lose weight and increase physical activity, while further research is needed to change healthy eating and sedentary behaviors
This study aims to identify the existing evidence for group-based interventions delivered within workplace settings to help shift workers lose weight, increase physical activity, improve healthy eating, or reduce sedentary time
We found a range of delivery formats for workplace lifestyle group-based interventions for shift workers; from programs based around face-to-face information sessions [50, 64] or guided physical activity sessions [57, 60, 61, 68], to more composite programs that included educational lectures, supervised or structured PA sessions, guidance for individual PA activities and/or counselling sessions [12, 43,44,45, 49, 51,52,53,54,55,56, 59, 62, 63, 65,66,67]
Summary
A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Knowledge, EBSCO and Ovid databases. Using pre-established criteria, independent pairs of researchers conducted the study selection, quality appraisal and data extraction. Group-based interventions were defined as any interventions that delivered the intervention or specific components of the intervention to groups of employees rather than on an individual basis. This could include group educational seminars, teambased physical activity challenges and group physical activity training sessions to name a few. The intervention had to target at least one of the following: weight loss; physical activity; dietary improvement; and/or reduced sedentary behavior. Outcomes of interest were weight, physical activity, diet, and/or sedentary time
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