Does a 40-week football and Zumba exercise intervention influence self-reported job satisfaction, work role functioning and sick leave among female hospital employees? A cluster-randomised controlled trial

This 40-week cluster-randomised controlled trial (RCT) examines the effects of football and Zumba on self-perceived job satisfaction, work role functioning and sick leave among Norwegian female hospital employees. Hundred-and-seven employees, mainly consisting of nurses (80%), were allocated into three groups; Football (FG), Zumba (ZG) and Control (CG). The exercise groups were offered two to three and one to two 1-h weekly sessions during the first 12 and last 28 weeks, respectively, with an actual weekly exercise frequency of 2.4 ± 0.5 and 0.9 ± 0.2 in FG and 2.3 ± 0.3 and 0.8 ± 0.2 in ZG. Outcome variables were measured at baseline, 12 and 40 weeks. In comparison to CG (4.8 days 95% CI 3.2–6.4), ZG (1.9 days, 95% CI 0.4–3.5) had a significant lower overall mean days of sickness absence during last sick leave period (−2.9 days, 95% CI −5.1 to −0.7, p = .011) which corresponded to a moderate effect size (d = 0.60). Between baseline (88.5%, 95% CI 84.3–92.6) and 12 weeks (93.8%, 95% CI 89.4–98.2), ZG showed significant within-group improvement in total score of the Work Role Functioning Questionnaire (WRFQ) (5.3%, 95% CI 0.6–10.1, p = .029), corresponding to a moderate effect size (d = 0.40). This study indicates that two to three 1-h weekly Zumba sessions can have a preventive effect on sick leave in female hospital employees.