fitin14: A workforce physical activity and wellbeing survey in

Dumfries and Galloway

Jenny Bruce & Chris Topping

Health Intelligence UnitDG Health and WellbeingDumfries and Galloway Council

Background

• “Physical activity includes all forms of activity, such as everyday walking or cycling to get from A to B, active play, work-related activity, active recreation (such as working out in a gym), dancing, gardening or playing active games, as well as organised and competitive sport” (Start Active, Stay Active, 2011).

• Physical activity benefits – the workplace

• Physical activity guidelines

• No local or departmental level data using current physical activity guidelines

• To consult with the local workforce

• Identify gaps and opportunities

• Calculate the cost of workplace physical inactivity

• Produce evidenced based recommendations

Rationale

Outcomes

• Determine:

– levels of physical activity

– the correlation between

physical activity & sedentary behaviors

physical activity and sickness absence

physical activity & mental health and wellbeing

• Working Group established

• Pilot

• Self report survey (limitations)

• Robust sample size (n = 2,596)

Methodology

Methodology Continued

Dumfries and Galloway Council

NHS Dumfries and Galloway

1,989 responses 867 responses

26% of workforce 20% of total workforce

72% female28% male

83% female17% male

43% aged 45-54 years 36% aged 45-54 years

Survey Questions

Results

Dumfries and Galloway Council NHS Dumfries and Galloway

62% met weekly physical activity guidelines

62% met weekly physical activity guidelines

Males more active than females* Males more active than females*

Staff sitting for less time were more likely to meet guidelines

Staff sitting for less time were more likely to meet guidelines

Staff meeting guidelines weekly was highest in those that were not off sick for any days in the preceding year (67%)

Staff meeting guidelines weekly was highest in those that were not off sick for any days in the preceding year (68%)

Wellbeing decline with reduced frequency of meeting guidelines*

Wellbeing decline with reduced frequency of meeting guidelines*

* = Statistically significant finding

Council Staff Result – Physical Activity Levels by age and gender

65% 67% 62% 60% 60% 64% 58%71%

23% 22%24% 24% 24%

27%26%

18%

12% 11% 14% 16% 16%9%

16% 11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 Female Male

Age Gender

Per

cen

tag

e o

f res

po

nse

s

Frequency of achieving physical activity guidelines by age group and gender - Dumfries & Galloway Council

Weekly More than once a month but not weekly Less than once a month

Staff Physical Activity and Wellbeing Survey 2014Valid repsonses : 1,864 (age), 1,830 (gender)

Council Staff Result – Physical Activity Levels by age and gender

65% 67% 62% 60% 60% 64% 58%71%

23% 22%24% 24% 24%

27%26%

18%

12% 11% 14% 16% 16%9%

16% 11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 Female Male

Age Gender

Per

cen

tag

e o

f res

po

nse

s

Frequency of achieving physical activity guidelines by age group and gender - Dumfries & Galloway Council

Weekly More than once a month but not weekly Less than once a month

Staff Physical Activity and Wellbeing Survey 2014Valid repsonses : 1,864 (age), 1,830 (gender)

Council Staff Result – Physical Activity Levels by age and gender

65% 67% 62% 60% 60% 64% 58%71%

23% 22%24% 24% 24%

27%26%

18%

12% 11% 14% 16% 16%9%

16% 11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 Female Male

Age Gender

Per

cen

tag

e o

f res

po

nse

s

Frequency of achieving physical activity guidelines by age group and gender - Dumfries & Galloway Council

Weekly More than once a month but not weekly Less than once a month

Staff Physical Activity and Wellbeing Survey 2014Valid repsonses : 1,864 (age), 1,830 (gender)

Council Staff Result – Physical Activity Level by time spent sitting

12% 11% 16% 21% 15%21% 24%

25% 22%25%

22%26%

22%23%

64% 66% 59% 57% 58% 57% 53%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

<1 hour 1-2 hours 2-3 hours 3-4 hours 4-5 hours 5-6 hours >6 hours

Per

cen

tag

e o

f res

po

nse

s

Hours spent sitting or reclining without interruption

Frequency of achieving physical activity guidelines by average time spent sitting or reclining without interruption

in a typical work day - Dumfries & Galloway Council

Weekly More than once a month but not weekly Less than once a month

Staff Physical Activity and Wellbeing Survey 2014Valid repsonses : 1,832

Council Staff Result – Physical Activity Level by time spent sitting

12% 11% 16% 21% 15%21% 24%

25% 22%25%

22%26%

22%23%

64% 66% 59% 57% 58% 57% 53%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

<1 hour 1-2 hours 2-3 hours 3-4 hours 4-5 hours 5-6 hours >6 hours

Per

cen

tag

e o

f res

po

nse

s

Hours spent sitting or reclining without interruption

Frequency of achieving physical activity guidelines by average time spent sitting or reclining without interruption

in a typical work day - Dumfries & Galloway Council

Weekly More than once a month but not weekly Less than once a month

Staff Physical Activity and Wellbeing Survey 2014Valid repsonses : 1,832

Council Staff Result – Increased Physical activity

- 79% would like to be more active

Council Staff Result – Increased Physical activity

- 79% would like to be more active

NHS Staff Result – Physical Activity Level by Sickness Absence

12% 15% 19% 18% 23%

7%

22%

20%25%

25% 28%

46%

43%24%

68%60% 56% 54%

31%

50% 53%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0 days 1-2 days 3-5 days 6-10 days 11-15 days 16-20 days 21 days+

Per

cen

tag

e o

f res

po

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s

Days absent from work in 2013

Frequency of achieving physical activity guidelines by number of days absent from work in 2013

- NHS Dumfries & Galloway

Weekly More than once a month but not weekly Less than once a month

Staff Physical Activity and Wellbeing Survey 2014Valid repsonses : 789

NHS Staff Result – Physical Activity Level by WEMWBS Score

52.149.2

47.2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Weekly More than once a month but not weekly

Less than once a month

Ave

rag

e W

EM

WB

S s

core

Frequency of achieving physical activity guidelines by average WEMWBS score - NHS Dumfries & Galloway

Staff Physical Activity and Wellbeing Survey 2014Valid repsonses : 748

Cost Savings

An 5-10% increase in staff physical activity levels would deliver sickness absence reductions and employee satisfaction and retention with a quantifiable benefit of:

NHS = £479,458 - £587,717

Council = £455,321 - £682,123

NICE (2008)

• Feedback to relevant stakeholders including staff

• Collaborative approach to workforce activity

• Establish recommendations

• Deliver recommendations

• Repeat survey – early 2015

Next steps

1. Physical activity is one of the best things we can do for our health

2. Staff who are more active take less sick days, report better wellbeing and are less sedentary at work.

3. Local results are consistent with national data.

4. Increasing workforce physical activity delivers significant cost savings.

Concluding Thoughts