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Table 3 Personal and environmental determinants, theoretical methods, practical strategies and tools identified for increasing the level of physical activity among employees (program objective 1).

From: Design of the Balance@Work project: systematic development, evaluation and implementation of an occupational health guideline aimed at the prevention of weight gain among employees

Determinant

Theoretical method

Practical strategy

Tools

Knowledge

Tailored feedback

Provide verbal tailored feedback on national recommendations, benefits and possibilities

Stage matched feedback during counseling.

Information in print materials and in diary.

Awareness

Personalized risk

Self-monitoring

Provide verbal personal and normative feedback

Facilitate and stimulate written monitoring of own behavior

Stage matched feedback during counseling.

Risk communication chart.

Balance@Work toolkit consisting of:

a. Waist circumference measuring tape with a coloring scheme that indicates a healthy waist circumference.

b. Pedometer.

c. Diary containing information and logs to keep track of nutrition, physical activity and steps per day.

d. Print materials on physical activity and nutrition.

Attitude

Decisional balance

Re-evaluation of beliefs

Discuss the decisional balance

Provide positive feedback on changes in attitude and discuss irrational thoughts

Stage matched feedback during counseling.

Agenda setting chart in diary.

Scales assessing importance, confidence and willingness to change.

Decision matrix in diary.

Perceived behavioral control

Reinforcement

Goal setting

Increase confidence by providing positive feedback and discuss difficult situations

Invite to formulate implementation intentions

Stage matched feedback during counseling.

Evaluation of realistic short and long term goals, reason for goals, barriers and solutions in diary.

Habit

Active learning

Goal setting

Rewarding

Formulate action and coping plans

Invite to formulate implementation intentions

Invite to formulate rewards

Stage matched feedback during counseling.

Evaluation of realistic short and long term goals, reason for goals, barriers and solutions, and rewards for reached goals in diary.

Skills

Active learning

Reinforcement

Encourage to formulate implementation intentions and train relapse prevention skills

Provide positive feedback on skills

Stage matched feedback during counseling.

Evaluation of current skills and needed skills.

Subjective norm

Mobilizing social support

Skills building to reduce social pressure

Invite to formulate who can provide support

Encourage to train relapse prevention skills

Stage matched feedback during counseling.

Evaluation of who can provide social support in diary.

Availability

Environmental changes

Encourage to formulate environmental changes that facilitate a healthy work environment

Information in print materials.

Environment scan consisting of:

a checklist which provides insight in opportunities to create a healthier work environment. Examples of items are: are bike sheds and change facilities present? is the cafeteria adapted to stimulate healthy nutrition? is a rewarding system present?

Feasibility and barriers for changing the environment can be scored together with the employer, as well as a start and evaluation date.

Management commitment and support

Mobilizing management support

Rewarding

Encourage management participation

Provide incentives

 

Social support

Mobilizing social support from collegues

Encourage participation of collegues

 

Company policy and costs

Mobilizing management to provide policy that encourages a healthy work environment

Encourage management and the workers' representative council to facilitate changes

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