Physical work environment in an activity-based flex office: a longitudinal case study

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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to investigate and explore Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management, office ergonomics, and musculoskeletal symptoms in a group of office workers relocating from cell offices to activity-based flex offices (AFOs).

Methods

The analysis was based on qualitative interview data with 77 employees and longitudinal questionnaire data from 152 employees.

Results

Results indicate that there was a need to clarify roles and processes related to the management of OHS. Self-rated sit comfort, working posture, and availability of daylight deteriorated and symptoms in neck and shoulders increased after the relocation and seemed to be influenced by many factors, such as difficulties adjusting the workstations, the availability of suitable workplaces, and age, sex, and individual needs.

Conclusion.

Research on the long-term effects of physical work environments and management of (OHS) issues after implementing activity-based flex offices is sparse. This study demonstrates the importance of planning and organising OHS issue management when implementing an AFO, and to carefully implement office ergonomics among office workers.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00420-024-02073-z.

Practitioner summary

Knowledge of effects on the physical work environment and management of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issues after implementing activity-based flex offices (AFOs) is sparse. Findings from this mixed methods longitudinal study suggests a possible need to reorganise the management of OHS issues and carefully implement office ergonomics when implementing flexible office types like AFOs.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00420-024-02073-z.

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Most cited references 43

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The qualitative content analysis process.

Satu Elo, Helvi Kyngäs (2008)

This paper is a description of inductive and deductive content analysis. Content analysis is a method that may be used with either qualitative or quantitative data and in an inductive or deductive way. Qualitative content analysis is commonly used in nursing studies but little has been published on the analysis process and many research books generally only provide a short description of this method. When using content analysis, the aim was to build a model to describe the phenomenon in a conceptual form. Both inductive and deductive analysis processes are represented as three main phases: preparation, organizing and reporting. The preparation phase is similar in both approaches. The concepts are derived from the data in inductive content analysis. Deductive content analysis is used when the structure of analysis is operationalized on the basis of previous knowledge. Inductive content analysis is used in cases where there are no previous studies dealing with the phenomenon or when it is fragmented. A deductive approach is useful if the general aim was to test a previous theory in a different situation or to compare categories at different time periods.

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Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness.

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Qualitative content analysis as described in published literature shows conflicting opinions and unsolved issues regarding meaning and use of concepts, procedures and interpretation. This paper provides an overview of important concepts (manifest and latent content, unit of analysis, meaning unit, condensation, abstraction, content area, code, category and theme) related to qualitative content analysis; illustrates the use of concepts related to the research procedure; and proposes measures to achieve trustworthiness (credibility, dependability and transferability) throughout the steps of the research procedure. Interpretation in qualitative content analysis is discussed in light of Watzlawick et al.'s [Pragmatics of Human Communication. A Study of Interactional Patterns, Pathologies and Paradoxes. W.W. Norton & Company, New York, London] theory of communication.

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Achieving integration in mixed methods designs-principles and practices.

Michael Fetters, Leslie A Curry, John Creswell (2013)

Mixed methods research offers powerful tools for investigating complex processes and systems in health and health care. This article describes integration principles and practices at three levels in mixed methods research and provides illustrative examples. Integration at the study design level occurs through three basic mixed method designs-exploratory sequential, explanatory sequential, and convergent-and through four advanced frameworks-multistage, intervention, case study, and participatory. Integration at the methods level occurs through four approaches. In connecting, one database links to the other through sampling. With building, one database informs the data collection approach of the other. When merging, the two databases are brought together for analysis. With embedding, data collection and analysis link at multiple points. Integration at the interpretation and reporting level occurs through narrative, data transformation, and joint display. The fit of integration describes the extent the qualitative and quantitative findings cohere. Understanding these principles and practices of integration can help health services researchers leverage the strengths of mixed methods. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Viktoria Wahlström:

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4656-7606

viktoria.wahlstrom@umu.se

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int Arch Occup Environ Health

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int Arch Occup Environ Health

Title: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg (Berlin/Heidelberg )

ISSN (Print): 0340-0131

ISSN (Electronic): 1432-1246

Publication date (Electronic): 17 May 2024

Publication date PMC-release: 17 May 2024

Publication date (Print): 2024

Volume: 97

Issue: 6

Pages: 661-674

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, ( https://ror.org/05kb8h459) Umeå, Sweden

[2 ]Umeå School of Architecture, Umeå University, ( https://ror.org/05kb8h459) Umeå, Sweden

[3 ]Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, ( https://ror.org/05kb8h459) Umeå, Sweden

[4 ]Department of Psychology, Umeå University, ( https://ror.org/05kb8h459) Umeå, Sweden

[5 ]Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, ( https://ror.org/05kb8h459) Umeå, 901 87 Sweden

Author information

Viktoria Wahlström http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4656-7606

Article

Publisher ID: 2073

DOI: 10.1007/s00420-024-02073-z

PMC ID: 11245412

PubMed ID: 38755483

SO-VID: 23aeebec-05d1-4922-9cae-2fe98eca5b71

License:

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

History

Date received : 15 November 2023

Date accepted : 1 May 2024

Funding

Funded by: Umea University

Open Access :

Open access funding provided by Umea University.

Custom metadata

ScienceOpen disciplines: Occupational & Environmental medicine

Keywords: ergonomics,flexible office,office design,occupational health and safety,office workers,work environment

Data availability:

ScienceOpen disciplines: Occupational & Environmental medicine

Keywords: ergonomics, flexible office, office design, occupational health and safety, office workers, work environment

Physical work environment in an activity-based flex office: a longitudinal case study

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Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion.

Supplementary Information

Practitioner summary

Supplementary Information

Related collections

Annals of Family Medicine: COVID-19

Most cited references 43

The qualitative content analysis process.

Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness.

Achieving integration in mixed methods designs-principles and practices.

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