Would users of height-adjustable desks benefit from a gentle reminder and thereby get more out of their sit-stand office application? LINAK wanted to find out.
White paper shows how to motivate users
In a study conducted by the Danish behavioral design agency /KL.7, we sought to find out to what extent (if any) reminders have an effect on the sit-stand behavior in office workers using height-adjustable desks. 65 people in three different workplaces tested different types of reminders, indicating if interventions would help change the behavior of these workers.
Reminders clearly increased the usage of sit-stand desks
The study found that office workers who normally would not stand at their desks used their sit-stand desks 12 minutes more each day if they were reminded. It also showed that office workers who previously had low sit-stand ambitions increased their standing time by 43 minutes per day – thanks to the reminders.
Case study shows the value of LINAK reminder tools for office desks
In order to test the promised motivational factor of reminders, a case study was carried out. It was set up to show whether LINAK reminder tools for office desks could create a positive effect on the sit-stand behavior of office workers. The case study included a test group of 40 participants, all working at the German company Diamant Software. It was conducted by the German ‘Institut für Gesundheit und Ergonomie’ (supported by the German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs) in collaboration with LINAK.
Test group were motivated by sit-stand reminders
The test group in the case study was split up into two: one half received a 'sit-stand reminder kit' (e.g., the Desk Panel DPG with reminder, as well as the Desk Control™ app and software with notifications) - the other half continued with a basic desk setup. The case study revealed that office workers with the ‘sit-stand reminder kit’ rated the usability of their height-adjustable desks ‘good’ while also increasing their sit-stand frequency – in other words: they changed behavior. The Desk Control software, which reminds users to stand up with a notification on the computer screen, was especially popular with workers in the test group.
Learn more about reminder effects for electric height-adjustable desks
Of course, it depends on individual factors to form a new habit. However, our white paper research and case study clearly indicate that reminders seem to be promising tools for supporting office workers who wish to increase the use of their height-adjustable office desks.
You can read more about the white paper research and the case study below.
