Introduction Digital technology-based interventions have gained popularity over the last two decades, due to the ease with which they are scalable and low in implementation cost. Multicomponent health promotion programmes, with significant digital components, are increasingly being deployed in the workplace to assess and promote employees’ health behaviours and reduce risk of chronic diseases. However, little is known about workplace digital health interventions in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Methods Various combinations of keywords related to “digital health”, “intervention”, “workplace” and “developing country” were applied in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, Scopus and Cochrane Library for peer-reviewed articles in English language. Manual searches were performed to supplement the database search. The screening process was conducted in two phases and a narrative synthesis to summarise the data. The review protocol was written prior to undertaking the review (OSF Registry:10.17605/OSF.IO/QPR9J). Results The search strategy identified 10,298 publications, of which 24 were included. Included studies employed the following study designs: randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 12), quasi-experimental (n = 4), pilot studies (n = 4), pre-post studies (n = 2) and cohort studies (n = 2). Most of the studies reported positive feedback of the use of digital wellness interventions in workplace settings. Conclusions This review is the first to map and describe the impact of digital wellness interventions in the workplace in LMICs. Only a small number of studies met the inclusion criteria. Modest evidence was found that digital workplace wellness interventions were feasible, cost-effective, and acceptable. However, long-term, and consistent effects were not found, and further studies are needed to provide more evidence. This scoping review identified multiple digital health interventions in LMIC workplace settings and highlighted a few important research gaps.

Background Chronic diseases and the associated risk factors are preventable with lifestyle changes such as eating a healthier diet and being more physically active. In Malaysia, the prevalence of chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases, has risen. In the present study, we explore the potential of co-designing and implementing a digital wellness intervention to promote socially-driven health knowledge and practices in the workplace in Malaysia, drawing on social cognitive theory, social impact theory, and social influence theory. Objective This study aims to co-design and assess the feasibility of a socially-driven digital health intervention to promote healthy behavior and prevent chronic diseases in a workplace in Malaysia. Methods This study involves two phases: (i) identifying the barriers and facilitators to healthy behaviors at work and co-designing the intervention activities with the employees, (ii) implementing and evaluating the intervention’s feasibility. Phase 1 will involve qualitative data collection and analysis through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and co-design workshops with the employees, while Phase 2 will consist of a feasibility study employing quantitative measurements of health behaviors through accelerometers and questionnaires. Results This study was funded in June 2021 and ethics approval for Phase 1 was obtained from the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee in January 2022. As of August 2022, qualitative interviews with 12 employees have been completed and the data has been transcribed and analyzed. These results will be published in a future paper with results from all Phase 1 activities. Conclusions The study will help us to better understand the mechanisms through which digital technologies can promote socially-driven health knowledge and behaviors. This research will also result in a scalable wellness intervention that could be further tailored and expanded to other employers and social groups across the region. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/39238

BACKGROUND Chronic diseases and the associated risk factors are preventable with lifestyle changes such as eating a healthier diet and being more physically active. In Malaysia, the prevalence of chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases, has risen in 2019. In the present study, we explore the potential of using a digital wellness intervention to promote socially-driven health knowledge and practices in the workplace in Malaysia. It is hypothesized that the co-designed intervention, informed by the social cognitive theory, social impact theory, and social influence theory, will lead to increases in physical activity and healthier diets among the employees. OBJECTIVE This study aims to co-design and assess the feasibility of a socially-driven digital health intervention to promote healthy behaviour and prevent chronic diseases in a workplace in Malaysia. METHODS This study involves two phases: (i) identifying the barriers and facilitators to healthy behaviours at work and co-designing the intervention with the employees, (ii) implementing and evaluating the intervention’s feasibility. Phase I will involve qualitative data collection and analysis through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and co-design group sessions with the employees, while Phase II will involve quantitative measurements of health behaviours through accelerometers and questionnaires. We aim to recruit 100 employees aged 18 and above who own and use mobile devices. Participants will be excluded if they take extended leave for more than 2 weeks or are pregnant or lactating. RESULTS This study was funded in June 2021. As of 7 January 2022, we have obtained ethics approval from the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee. Study recruitment for Phase One is scheduled to begin in March 2022. The study design and procedures will be included in the following study results publication. CONCLUSIONS The study will help us to better understand the mechanisms through which digital technologies can promote socially-driven health knowledge and behaviours. This research will also result in a scalable wellness intervention that could be further tailored and expanded to other employers and social groups across the region.