Interrupting Sedentary Time in the Workplace Using Regular Short Activity Breaks: Practicality From an Employee Perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the practicalities of undertaking 2 to 3 minutes of light to moderate intensity physical activity after every 30 minutes of prolonged sitting by examining barriers and facilitators. METHODS: Around 27 (n = 22 women) employees working in higher education who sat for greater than 5 hours during a work day participated in a focus group discussion. RESULTS: Through inductive thematic analysis, themes characterising workplace culture and having the knowledge (or not) of benefits were found to be a facilitator and a barrier. Additional barriers were a perceived reduction in work productivity and specific work tasks that precluded taking activity breaks. Extrinsic motivators and prompts were suggested to facilitate participation. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental and individual strategies are required to build capability, opportunity, and motivation for undertaking regular activity breaks and should inform the development of an ecologically valid workplace intervention.