The Booster Break program: Description and feasibility test of a worksite physical activity daily practice

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Taylor, Wendell C. | Shegog, Ross | Chen, Vincent | Rempel, David M. | Baun, MaryBeth Pappas | Bush, Cresendo L. | Green, Tomas | Hare-Everline, Nicole

Affiliations: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, Houston, TX, USA | School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA | Baun Associates / Wellness-Without-Walls, Houston, TX, USA | Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA | City of Houston, Health and Human Services, Wellness Connection, Houston, TX, USA

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Wendell C. Taylor, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, 7000 Fannin Street, Suite 2670, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Tel.: +1 713 500 9635; Fax: +1 713 500 9602; E-mail: Wendell.C.Taylor@uth.tmc.edu

Abstract: Objective: Work breaks are underutilized opportunities to promote health. The Booster Break program is a co-worker led physical activity group session devoted exclusively to standard 15-minute work breaks. The purpose of this study was to report the fidelity, attendance, feasibility, and sustainability of the Booster Break program and to explore its potential impact. Participants: The study site was a small business that provides legal and court reporting services to lawyers. The company's services include legal videography, litigation, records retrieval, and videoconferencing to civil attorneys. Established in 1973, the organization has 14 employees (8 women and 6 men), from 32 to 66 years of age. Methods: For six months, this small business implemented the Booster Break program. Booster Break facilitators conducted the group sessions according to protocol, which included describing, cueing, and executing the physical activity sequence. Results: During the six month period, 117 sessions were conducted. The average monthly attendance ranged from 76% to 86%. Participants significantly improved HDL cholesterol (p=0.04) and lost an average of 14 pounds. Conclusions: The Booster Break program is a feasible physical activity program for small business settings. The implications of the Booster Break program for future research in worksite settings are discussed.

Keywords: Worksites, health promotion, physical activity, work breaks, employee health

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2010-1097

Journal: Work, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 433-443, 2010