Effects of Sedentary Behaviors at Work on Health in Emergency Medical Dispatchers and CODIS Operators

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how sedentary behavior changes in emergency medical dispatchers and firefighters during their work shifts. The study compares usual 12-hour workdays with days when participants use either a sit-and-stand desk, requiring them to stand at least 5 minutes each hour, or a cycloergometer placed under the desk. This research aims to understand the impact of these behavioral changes on sedentary habits and occupational stress in these workers. Participants will experience three separate 12-hour workdays under different conditions: normal sitting, standing breaks with a sit-and-stand desk, and cycling with a cycloergometer. The study uses a randomized Latin Square design with cross-over and occupation stratification. Continuous monitoring includes heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, physical activity, and blood sugar levels during work and the subsequent night. Blood and saliva samples are collected multiple times daily, and participants complete questionnaires about stress, fatigue, mood, physical activity, and substance use. Each participant is involved for three days, completing questionnaires at the start and end of each day and a general questionnaire at the study's beginning covering social, psychological, and dietary factors. Measurements include continuous biometric monitoring, blood and saliva sampling, and detailed event reporting. The main outcomes focus on sedentary behavior during work under each condition, alongside secondary measures of physical and psychological health collected throughout the study.

Effects of a Sedentary Behaviors at Work on Health in Emergency Medical Dispatchers and CODIS Operators (SECODIS)