Abstract
A dynamic seating system that infuses movement into older adults’ seated occupations was developed and tested following the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stage Model. User testing and feedback inform improvements necessary for the system to affect healthy sitting behaviors.
Primary Author and Speaker: Stacey L. Schepens Niemiec
Contributing Authors: Gene Lee, Jiehong Shi, Matthew Niemiec
Many occupations in which older adults engage occur during sitting (Crombie et al., 2022). Although these occupations may have productive, functional, and/or socioemotional meaning, they also contribute to sedentariness, which is in turn linked to chronic disease (Naber et al., 2021). Activ Sitting, Inc., in collaboration with an interdisciplinary clinical team, has created a dynamic seating solution–FitSitt–to provide the means and motivation to disrupt seated sedentary activity (SA) with treadle-based physical activity. Following the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development (National Institutes of Health, 2024), FitSitt has undergone iterative mixed-methods development and testing: basic research (stage 0), intervention generation/refinement (stage 1A/1B), and community-based efficacy testing (stage 3). After investigation of 2 iterative prototypes in lab (N = 30) and in home (N = 17+15), users have offered critical feedback on design, functionality, and how FitSitt could more reasonably be infused into daily seated routines. Results of an initial impressions survey (5-pt Likert–strongly disagree = 0/strongly agree = 4) revealed despite system refinements from v1 to v2 (e.g., addition of a pedaling tracker app and sedentary alerts), user impressions remained neutral- to-positive (≈2.5), not quite meeting the a priori ≥3 threshold to affirm system acceptability. An important theme arising from qualitative interviews–and an issue to address moving forward–is that users viewed FitSitt as an episodic exerciser rather than an all-day-use tool to break up immobile sitting. Deeper investigation into what would motivate users to replace their seated SA with FitSitt usage is warranted. Addressing target users’ critiques of the FitSitt prototypes by revisiting stages 1–3 of the NIH stage model will be necessary to improve the system’s overall functionality and likelihood to positively alter older adults’ seated occupations and overall SA patterns long-term.
Crombie, K. M., Leitzelar, B. N., Almassi, N. E., Mahoney, J. E., & Koltyn, K. F. (2022). The Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Community-Based Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(1), 92–102. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464820987919
Naber, A. J., Dendinger, M. M., Heier, V. L., Michels, M. L., Vandenberg, D. L., & Lucas Molitor, W. (2021). Sedentary Behavior, Quality of Life, and Occupational Performance among Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Physical & Occupational Therapy In Geriatrics, 40(2), 205–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/02703181.2021.2015049
National Institutes of Health (January 11, 2024). NIH stage model for behavioral intervention development. National Institute on Aging. Retrieved June 18, 2024 from https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dbsr/nih-stage-model-behavioral-intervention-development