Abstract Introduction:<\b>
Excessive sedentary time is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. As adults spend approximately 70% of their non-work time being sedentary there is great scope for changing behaviour to improve population health. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for reducing sedentary behaviour in non-occupational settings. Methods:<\b>
The following databases were searched: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SportDiscus. Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) and Cluster RCTs that aimed to change sedentary behaviour in community-dwelling adults aged 18 – 59 years and free from pre-existing medical conditions that may limit participation in the intervention, were eligible for inclusion. Results will be reported as mean treatment effects and 95% confidence intervals using a random effects model. Subgroup analysis will be conducted to examine evidence of differential responses to the interventions. Sensitivity analysis will explore the impact of risk of bias on study findings. Results:<\b>
Searches yielded 7653 hits. 18 publications representing 9 studies were included. Results of the meta-analysis and narrative synthesis will be presented. This will include assessment of heterogeneity, reporting biases, subgroup and sensitivity analysis. Conclusion:<\b>
At present there is some evidence that interventions targeted in the home and leisure environment may reduce sedentary time in the short term. The present study augments the existing evidence base by synthesising available research and will therefore aid evidence-based decision making by policy-makers and practitioners working to address sedentary behaviour. External funding details EM is supported by a Cochrane Fellowship from the Health Research Board (Ireland).
