Workplace Exercise and Well-Being in Radiologic Technologists

Effects of a Workplace Exercise Program on Stress, Burnout, and Quality of Life in Radiologic Technologists

Radiologic technologists often face demanding work conditions that contribute to elevated stress levels and increased burnout risk, ultimately affecting both their well-being and professional effectiveness. Workplace exercise initiatives have shown potential benefits for improving physical and psychological health; however, experimental research targeting this specific occupational group is still scarce. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a structured workplace exercise intervention on perceived stress, burnout, and quality of life among radiologic technologists. The secondary objective is to assess the effects of a detraining period on the same outcomes following completion of the exercise program.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Quality of Life; Burnout; Health Promotion; Exercise Training; Occupational Stress or Workplace Stress; Radiologists
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Workplace Exercise Program; Other: Control (Non-exercise)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 19
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Portugal
  • Castelo Branco, Portugal, 6000
    • Local Health Unit of Castelo Branco (ULSCB)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy radiographers (diagnostic and therapeutic imaging technologists)
• Currently employed in the radiology department of the participating hospital
• Voluntary participation with signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of major musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, or neurological conditions that contraindicate physical exercise;
• Pregnancy;
• Unavailability to attend regular exercise sessions

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Exercise group; Participants are involved in a workplace exercise program.	Behavioral: Workplace Exercise Program; Participants complete a six-week workplace exercise program comprising structured sessions based on methodologies described in previous studies (Alqhtani et al., 2023; Gelfman et al., 2024). Sessions are conducted three times per week, twice per day, with each session lasting approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The program includes exercises primarily performed in a standing position and aims to improve flexibility, balance, and strength. Flexibility training: Static and dynamic stretching exercises performed three times per week, 1-2 sets per exercise, held for 10-15 seconds each. Balance training: Static and dynamic balance exercises performed three times per week, 1-3 sets per exercise, for 10-20 repetitions or 10-20 seconds over a 3-6 meter distance. Strength training: Bodyweight and resistance exercises using auxiliary equipment (e.g., elastic bands), performed three times per week, 1-3 sets per exercise, 8-15 repetitions per set, with a slow to moderate tempo.
Other: Control group; Non-exercise group	Other: Control (Non-exercise); Participants in the control (non-exercise) group maintain their usual work routines and will not participate in any structured exercise sessions during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in Quality of Life Levels	The World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) was used. The Portuguese version was adapted and validated by Canavarro et al. (2007).	From baseline to 6 weeks (end of the exercise program)
Changes in Burnout Levels	The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), developed by Kristensen et al. (2005) and adapted for the Portuguese population by Fonte (2011), was used to assess burnout levels.	From baseline to 6 weeks (end of the exercise program)
Changes in Perceived Stress Levels	The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was developed by Cohen, Kamarck, and Mermelstein (1983) and aims to measure an individual's subjective perception of stress intensity in their life - specifically, the degree to which situations are evaluated as unpredictable, uncontrollable, or overwhelming. The Portuguese version of the PSS-10 was validated by Trigo et al. (2010).	From baseline to 6 weeks (end of the exercise program)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in quality of life, stress, and burnout	WHOQOL-BREF; Perceived Stress Scale; Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI)	End of intervention (week 6) and after 4 weeks of detraining (week 10)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pedro Ramalho
• Collaborators: University of Beira Interior

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 14, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 25, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 25, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): December 8, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Stress, Psychological; Occupational Diseases; Behavior; Burnout, Psychological; Occupational Stress
• Other Study ID Numbers: EXER-RAD-2025

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified data that support the findings of this study may be made available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and following approval by the Ethics Committee.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No