Approaches to Changing Behaviours: Designing an Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour in the Workplace using Behaviour Change Theory

The aim of this article is to present a specific example of the application of the use of behaviour change theory to design workplace physical activity interventions, and to provide a conceptual guide for workplaces to follow. As a part of a wider National Health Service Clinical Commissioning Group initiative to improve the overall health and wellbeing of the county’s workforce, a County Sports Partnership were commissioned to design and implement an intervention to increase the physical activity levels of employees within the workplace.
The intervention was designed using a behaviour change approach, drawing upon the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity and Motivation equals’ behaviour) model. Workplace needs were analysed, focusing on the three areas of business need, workplace environment and employee need. These needs were then analysed, and using a policy approach, workplaces designed long-term action plans to shift the sedentary behaviours identified via the needs analysis, through a range of bespoke measures.