BACKGROUND: Projects for workplace health promotion (WHP) for back pain traditionally focus exclusively on work-related but not on leisure-time stress on the spine. We developed a comprehensive WHP project on the back health of hospital workers regardless of the physical characteristics of their work and compared its effects on sedentary and physically active hospital workers.
METHODS: Study assessments were carried out before and six months after participation in the WHP intervention. The primary outcome parameter was back pain (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI). Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), work ability (Work Ability Index), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10), and quality of life (Short Form-36) were assessed via questionnaires as secondary outcome parameters. Physical performance was measured via the 30 seconds Sit-to-Stand test (30secSTS).
RESULTS: Sixty-eight healthcare workers with non-specific back pain were included in the evaluation study of the WHP project \"Back Health 24/7/365\". After six months, back pain, physical performance, and self-perceived physical functioning (SF-36 Physical Functioning subscale) improved significantly in both groups. Not a single parameter showed an interaction effect with the group allocation.
CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive WHP-intervention showed significant positive effects on hospital workers regardless of the physical characteristics of their work.

BACKGROUND: Digital interventions are potential tools for reducing and limiting occupational sedentary behaviour (SB) in sedentary desk-based jobs. Given the harmful effects of sitting too much and sitting for too long while working, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effectiveness of workplace interventions, that incorporated digital elements, to reduce the time spent in SB in office workers.
METHODS: Randomised control trials that evaluated the implementation of workplace interventions that incorporated digital elements for breaking and limiting SB among desk-based jobs were identified by literature searches in six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO and PEDro) published up to 2023. Studies were included if total and/or occupational SB were assessed. Only studies that reported pre- and postintervention mean differences and standard deviations or standard errors for both intervention arms were used for the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5 (RevMan 5; Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). Risk of bias was assessed using the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a Variety of Fields QUALSYST tool.
RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included in the systematic review. The most employed digital elements were information delivery and mediated organisational support and social influences. Multicomponent, information, and counselling interventions measuring total and/or occupational/nonoccupational SB time by self-report or via device-based measures were reported. Multicomponent interventions were the most represented. Eleven studies were included in the meta-analysis, which presented a reduction of 29.9 (95% CI: -45.2, -14.5) min/8 h workday in SB (overall effect: Z = 3.81).
CONCLUSIONS: Multicomponent interventions, using a wide range of digital features, have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing time spent in SB at the workplace among desk-based employees. However, due to hybrid work (i.e., work in the office and home) being a customary mode of work for many employees, it is important for future studies to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of these interventions in the evolving work landscape.
BACKGROUND: The review protocol was registered in the Prospero database (CRD42022377366).

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of information about the optimal setup of multiple screen configurations in virtual reality (VR) office work.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different screen configurations on neck flexion, rotation, neck muscle activity, and simulator sickness symptoms during Virtual Reality (VR) office work.
METHODS: Twelve participants (7 males; 21 to 27 years old) performed copy-paste and drag-drop tasks in three different screen configurations (single screen, primary-secondary screen, and double screen) in a randomized order. Optical motion capture system, electromyography (EMG) device, and simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ) were used to measure the users\' responses.
RESULTS: Neck rotation angles, muscle activities, and VR sickness were significantly affected by the screen configurations (p <  0.021). The primary-secondary screen showed the highest right rotation angle (median: -33.47°) and left sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle activities (median: 12.57% MVC). Both single (median: 22.42) and primary-secondary (median: 22.40) screen showed the highest value of SSQ.
CONCLUSIONS: The screen configurations in VR could be an important design factor affecting the users\' physical demands of the neck and VR sickness symptoms. Asymmetric neck rotations caused by the primary-secondary screen conditions should be avoided.

BACKGROUND: Research demonstrates that work interruptions are considered one of the most common work stressors. Understanding the mechanisms of work interruptions is therefore vital to reducing worker stress and maintaining performance.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of the frequency of work interruptions on subjective workload in the context of office work. Specifically, the mediating influence of interruption perception as well as the moderating influence of the complexity of the primary task are examined.
METHODS: The work interruptions of 492 office workers in Germany were collected by means of a one-day diary study. A mediation model and a conditional indirect effect model were calculated to examine the influence of interruption frequency on subjective workload, mediated by the individual perception of these interruptions as well as moderated by the complexity of the primary work tasks.
RESULTS: The analyses indicated a significant mediation and moderation. This implies that, on the one hand, the perception of work interruptions significantly mediates the relationship between the frequency of work interruptions and subjective workload. On the other hand, more complex primary work tasks seem to strengthen the positive relationship between interruption frequency and perceived interruption overload.
CONCLUSIONS: The study underlines that work interruptions need to be considered in a much more differentiated way than is currently the case. Both in research and in terms of intervention measures in the work context, the various influencing factors need to be identified for an assessment of the effects on the working person to be possible.

This study examines the effects of noise and the use of an Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) on the task performance and workload of office workers. Data were collected from forty-eight adults across varied office task scenarios (i.e., sending an email, setting up a timer/reminder, and searching for a phone number/address) and noise types (i.e., silence, non-verbal noise, and verbal noise). The baseline for this study is measured without the use of an IVA. Significant differences in performance and workload were found on both objective and subjective measures. In particular, verbal noise emerged as the primary factor affecting performance using an IVA. Task performance was dependent on the task scenario and noise type. Subjective ratings found that participants preferred to use IVA for less complex tasks. Future work can focus more on the effects of tasks, demographics, and learning curves. Furthermore, this work can help guide IVA system designers by highlighting factors affecting performance.

BACKGROUND: Movement control tests (MCTs) are clinical tests to evaluate impairment of movement and associated neuromuscular control and are commonly used to evaluate people with neck pain or headache conditions. The aim of this study was to establish inter-rater reliability as well as discriminatory and predictive validity for seven MCTs of the upper (UCS) and lower cervical spine (LCS) in office workers with headache or neck pain.
METHODS: Seven MCTs of the UCS (3) and LCS (4) were performed at baseline on 140 office workers which were included in a cluster randomized controlled trial. The occurrences of headache and neck pain were established at baseline (discriminatory validity) and at a 15-month follow-up (predictive validity). Inter-rater-reliability was established in a separate cross-sectional study.
RESULTS: MCTs showed slight to almost perfect inter-rater reliability but limited discriminatory (baseline) and limited to small predictive validity (15-month follow up) for different subgroups of office workers with headache and/or neck pain. MCTs of the UCS showed limited discriminatory validity, especially for rotation in participants with headache and neck pain compared to those with headache only (Negative Likelihood-ratio: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69-0.98). Participants with neck pain only and ≥1/4 positive MCTs for the sagittal plane had an increased risk for future neck pain (Relative risk: 3.33, 95% CI: 1.05-10.56).
CONCLUSIONS: MCTs of the UCS and LCS are reliable but have only limited to small validity to predict future headache events in office workers. Insufficient sagittal plane movement control may predict neck pain relapses in the future.

Interruption at work by social media (SM) is a pervasive phenomenon. This study investigated the impact of SM interruptions and task cognitive levels on mental workload (MWL) and physiological indexes. Each subject performed six simulated computer tasks differentiated by two factors: task cognitive level and performing condition. MWL was reflected through three categories of data: perceived mental workload, physiological indexes, and primary task performance. The results revealed significant effects of SM interruptions on heart rate, low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio, and skin conductance. ANOVA results showed there were main effects of task cognitive level on LF/HF and skin conductance. These effects during interrupted tasks were more profound. In addition, participants experienced higher MWL and recorded lower primary task performance in the knowledge-based task than the rule- and skill-based tasks. Our findings can guide managers and employees regarding appropriate use of SM in the workplace and better managing interruption and workload.Practitioner Summary: Office workers suffer from increased overall mental workload due to unpredictable interruptions while working. This study shows that participants\' mental workload increased when receiving SM interruptions, which was more profound during complex tasks. This highlights the importance of SM interruptions management for employees\' health, performance, and mobile application developers.Abbreviations: ANOVA: analysis of variance; DSSQ: dundee stress state questionnaire; ECG: electrocardiographic; EDA: electrodermal activity; EEG: electroencephalographic; HPA: hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenocortical; HR: heart rate; HRV: heart rate variability; LF/HF: low frequency/high frequency; MSDs: musculoskeletal disorders; MWL: mental workload; NN: normal to normal; RMS: root means square; RR: time duration between two successive R peaks; RT: response time; SC: skin conductance; SDNN: standard deviation of normal to normal; SM: social media; TCL: task cognitive level; TPC: task performing condition; WMC: working memory capacity.

BACKGROUND: Call center workers are highly susceptible to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) as well as mental stress. Nonetheless, there has been a surprising paucity in the body of the research regarding interventions among call center workers.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of a multicomponent ergonomic intervention program on mental workload, mental fatigue and WRMSDs of call center employees.
METHODS: A non-randomized interventional study with a single group pretest-posttest design was conducted among 84 call center workers of a private telecommunication company in the city of Tehran, Iran. At the baseline, data regarding WRMSDs prevalence, mental workload and mental fatigue were collected by means of standard Nordic, NASA-TLX and SOFI questionnaires, respectively. Then, subjects participated in a multifaceted intervention program including comprehensive office ergonomic training, work layout improvement, supervised on-site face to face visits, and provision of quality break time encompassing regular exercise program. Follow-up assessment was carried out after 6 months.
RESULTS: After the intervention, prevalence of WMSDs in the neck (10%, P = 0.022), lower back (8.4%, P = 0.04), and knees (9.5%, P = 0.02) decreased significantly, while improvements in other body areas remained insignificant. Results also showed a significant decrease in overall score of mental demand (P = 0.000) as well as three of its subscales including performance (P = 0.02), effort (P = 0.001), and frustration (P = 0.025). Additionally, positive effect of the intervention was also observable on overall mental fatigue of call center workers (P = 0.016). As for its subscales, Lack of energy was reported to decrease meaningfully (P = 0.007) while lack of motivation did not change significantly (P = 0.240).
CONCLUSIONS: Although the primary focus of many ergonomic interventions has remained to measure physical outcomes of the work place, our findings show that multicomponent interventions are indeed capable of boosting cognitive aspects of the work as well. The future studies should consider investigating such outcomes.

Office work has a relative perception of safety for the worker. Data from surveillance schemes and population-based epidemiological studies suggest that office work carries a low risk of occupational asthma (OA). Office workers are frequently used as comparators in studies of occupational exposure and respiratory disease.
We aimed to describe and illustrate our tertiary clinical experience of diagnosing OA in office workers.
We searched the Birmingham NHS Occupational Lung Disease Service clinical database for cases of occupational respiratory disease diagnosed between 2002 and 2020, caused by office work or in office workers. For patients with OA, we gathered existing data on demographics, diagnostic tests including Occupational Asthma SYStem (OASYS) analysis of serial peak expiratory flow and specific inhalational challenge, and employment outcome. We summarised data and displayed them alongside illustrative cases.
There were 47 cases of OA (5% of all asthma) confirmed using OASYS analysis of PEFs in the majority. Sixty percent of cases occurred in healthcare, education and government sectors. The most frequently implicated causative exposures or agents were: indoor air (9), printing, copying and laminating (7), cleaning chemicals (4), mould and damp (4), and acrylic flooring and adhesives (4). Exposures were grouped into internal office environment, office ventilation-related and adjacent environment.
Clinicians should be vigilant for exposures associated with OA in office workers who present with work-related symptoms, where respiratory sensitizing agents may be present. A structured approach to assessment of the workplace is recommended.

Sedentary behavior at work contributes to detrimental cognitive outcomes (e.g., decreases in attention). The length of time that cognitive performance benefits are sustained following bouts of breaking up sitting (e.g., using sit-stand desks or walking) is not known. A narrative review of the literature was conducted using a systematic search strategy, with keywords related to breaking up sitting interventions in office-based environments and cognitive performance outcomes in the period immediately post the cessation of the breaking up sitting intervention. Three types of office-based breaking up sitting interventions were identified; 1) sit-stand desks, 2) walking desks and 3) cycling desks. From the eight studies which met the criteria, the impacts of these interventions on cognitive performance outcomes were mixed, with significant benefits in some studies and others reporting no benefit. Of the cognitive domains assessed, working memory, attention, and psychomotor function showed significant sustained improvement for up to 30 minutes post intervention. While there are benefits to a key set of cognitive performance domains following breaking up sitting interventions in office-based settings, no studies have evaluated whether benefits to cognitive performance persist for longer than 30 minutes after the breaking up sitting intervention. Furthermore, specific applications of these cognitive benefits to tasks outside of work (e.g., driving home from work) are unknown.