TY - JOUR
T1 - A Qualitative Study of the Feasibility and Acceptability of Implementing 'Sit-To-Stand' Desks in Vocational Education and Training
AU - Kirschner, Mara
AU - Golsteijn, Rianne H J
AU - Sijben, Sanne M
AU - Singh, Amika S
AU - Savelberg, Hans H C M
AU - de Groot, Renate H M
PY - 2021/1/20
Y1 - 2021/1/20
N2 - While it has been shown that interrupting a person’s sedentary behaviour has the potentialto improve cognitive, physical and mental health, a large part of time that students spend in schoolis sedentary. As research has shown that approximately 80% of vocational education and training(VET) students have an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle, implementing “sit-to-stand” (StS) desks couldinterrupt sedentary behaviour and promote healthier behaviour. Therefore, the acceptability andfeasibility of using such desks in the VET setting should be investigated. Using semi-structuredfocus group interviews analysed via deductive content analysis, the opinions of 33 students for thefollowing topics were assessed: (1) usage of the standing option of the desks (2) reasons for standingin class (3) experienced effect of standing behind the desk, and (4) fostering future StS desks usage.Although VET students are aware of the potential benefits of using StS desks, they need to be activelystimulated and motivated by teachers to use them. In addition, time is needed to get into the habit ofstanding. Thus, for successful implementation of StS desks in the VET setting, all stakeholders (i.e.,students, teachers, schoolboards) should be actively involved in stimulating the healthy behaviour ofVET students.
AB - While it has been shown that interrupting a person’s sedentary behaviour has the potentialto improve cognitive, physical and mental health, a large part of time that students spend in schoolis sedentary. As research has shown that approximately 80% of vocational education and training(VET) students have an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle, implementing “sit-to-stand” (StS) desks couldinterrupt sedentary behaviour and promote healthier behaviour. Therefore, the acceptability andfeasibility of using such desks in the VET setting should be investigated. Using semi-structuredfocus group interviews analysed via deductive content analysis, the opinions of 33 students for thefollowing topics were assessed: (1) usage of the standing option of the desks (2) reasons for standingin class (3) experienced effect of standing behind the desk, and (4) fostering future StS desks usage.Although VET students are aware of the potential benefits of using StS desks, they need to be activelystimulated and motivated by teachers to use them. In addition, time is needed to get into the habit ofstanding. Thus, for successful implementation of StS desks in the VET setting, all stakeholders (i.e.,students, teachers, schoolboards) should be actively involved in stimulating the healthy behaviour ofVET students.
KW - qualitative research
KW - sit-to-stand desks
KW - vocational education and training
KW - sedentary behaviour
KW - focus group interviews
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph18030849
DO - 10.3390/ijerph18030849
M3 - Article
C2 - 33498208
SN - 1660-4601
VL - 18
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 3
M1 - 849
ER -