Physical Activity and Work Ability in University Staff
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Occupational Physical Activity.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Work Ability. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Spain
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Relationship Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Work Ability in University Staff With Different Occupational Demands: A Cross-Sectional Study With a Gender Perspective
Overview
The goal of this observational study is to explore the relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and work ability in university staff, with a focus on occupational physical activity (OPA) and gender. The main question it aims to answer is: How does leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) influence work ability in university staff, considering their occupational physical activity (OPA) and gender? Participants from the University of Alcalá will complete an online survey, which includes sociodemographic data and validated questionnaires on LTPA, OPA, work ability, musculoskeletal disorders, health-related quality of life, and workload.
Detailed description
Introduction: 39.17% of the population in the Autonomous Community of Madrid (CAM) does not meet the physical activity recommendations set by the World Health Organization, representing a significant public health issue and considerable socioeconomic costs. Sex, gender, and working conditions are key determinants of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). However, there are few studies aimed at understanding these sociocultural barriers.
Objective: To describe the association between LTPA and work ability, depending on occupational physical activity (OPA), among university staff in CAM, with a gender perspective. Secondly, to describe the relationship between the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders at work, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical and mental workload, functional capacity, and working conditions with the aforementioned association.
Methodology: Cross-sectional descriptive study. The study population will consist of a representative sample of 885 workers from the University of Alcalá (Alcalá de Henares, Madrid), selected by snowball non-probability sampling. Participants will complete an ad hoc form (Microsoft Forms) including sociodemographic data (working hours, type of service, main task, income, menopause, etc.) and validated questionnaires in Spanish. The variables collected through these questionnaires will include LTPA and OPA (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire), work ability (Work Ability Index), prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders at work (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire), HRQoL (SF-12), and physical and mental workload (NASA Task Load Index).
Discussion: Improving understanding of the social determinants of physical activity in this population could facilitate the design of culturally sensitive interventions, thus making them more effective in reducing the economic and health costs of sedentary behavior.
Interventions
- Other Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Occupational Physical Activity
This study does not involve a specific intervention but explores the relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and occupational physical activity (OPA) in university staff, with a focus on work ability, musculoskeletal disorders, and quality of life.
Primary outcome measures
- Leisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA) [Time frame: At the same time as the recruitment]
- Occupational Physical Activity (OPA) [Time frame: At the same time as the recruitment]
- Work Ability [Time frame: At the same time as the recruitment]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Work-Related and Daily Activity Injuries [Time frame: At the same time as the recruitment]
- Physical and Mental Workload [Time frame: At the same time as the recruitment]
- Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) [Time frame: At the same time as the recruitment]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- University staff from different departments of the University of Alcalá who are able to understand Spanish.
Exclusion criteria
- Individuals with cognitive limitations that hinder their ability to comprehend information, respond to questionnaires, or consent to participation in the study.
- Individuals with neurological impairments or a diagnosis of severe mental illness.
- Individuals with uncontrolled cardiorespiratory diseases or diabetes.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
Study locations
Spain · 2 centers
- University of Alcala — Alcalá de Henares
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. University of Alcalá — Alcalá de Henares
Publications
- Lorenzo-Gallego L, Munoz-Pastor S, Menendez-Calvo MR, Navarro-Brazalez B, Torres-Lacomba M. Understanding the Link Between Physical Activity and Work Ability in University Staff: Protocol for a Gender-Sensitive Cross-Sectional Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Aug 28;14:e80298. doi: 10.2196/80298. PMID 40875988
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06723808 · CEID/2024/3/061