Lydia Kwak

Lydia Kwak

Senior Lecturer | Docent
Telephone: +46852487129
Visiting address: Nobels väg 7, 17165 Solna
Postal address: C6 Institutet för miljömedicin, C6 IIR Kwak, 171 77 Stockholm
Part of:

About me

  • My area of research is intervention and implementation research within the
    field of worker health, with a special focus on health promotion.
    I am an associate professor and senior lecturer in health promotion,  


  • head of the unit Intervention and Implementation Research in worker 

  • health and assistent director of Doctoral Education at IMM.
    Master in Health Sciences, specialized in Health Education and Promotion and
    Biological Health Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the
    Netherlands.
    Doctoral degree in Health Sciences. Title: the NHF-NRG-In Balance-project:
    development, implementation and evaluation of a weight gain prevention
    program. Academic institution: Maastricht University, Nutrition and
    Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht (NUTRIM), Human Biology, Maastricht,
    the Netherlands.
    *Publications *
    *Kwak, L*., Kremers, S.P.J., Walsh, A., &
  • Brug, J. How is your walking group
    running? /Health Education/, 2006:*106*
  • 21-31.
    *Kwak, L*., Kremers, S.P.J., van Baak, M.A., &
  • Brug, J. Participation rates
    in worksite-based intervention studies: health promotion context as a crucial
    quality criterion. /Health Promotion International/, 2006: *21*
  • 66-9.
    PMID:16339773.
    Werkman, A., Schuit, A.J., *Kwak, L*., Kremers, S.P.J., Visscher, T.L.S.,
    Kok, F.J., &
  • Schouten, E.G. Study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled
    trial investigating the effectiveness of a tailored energy balance program
    for recent retirees. /BMC Public Health/, 2006: *6*
  • 293. PMID:17147832.
    *Kwak, L*., Kremers, S.P.J., van Baak, M.A., &
  • Brug, J. Formation of
    implementation intentions promotes stair use. /American Journal of Preventive
    Medicine/, 2007: *32*
  • 254-5. PMID:17241761.
    *Kwak, L*., Kremers, S.P.J., Werkman, A. Visscher, T.L.S., van Baak, M.A., &

  • Brug, J. The NHF-NRG In Balance-project: the application of Intervention
    Mapping in the development, implementation and evaluation of weight gain
    prevention at the worksite. /Obesity Reviews/, 2007: *8*
  • 347-61.
    PMID:17578384.
    *Kwak, L*., Kremers, S.P.J., van Baak, M.A., &
  • Brug, J. A poster-based
    intervention to promote stair use in blue-and white-collar worksites.
    /Preventive Medicine, /2007/: /*45*
  • 177-81. PMID: 17610944.
    *Kwak, L*., Kremers, S.P.J., Brug, J. &
  • van Baak, M.A. Measuring physical
    activity in field studies: comparison of a questionnaire, 24h recall and
    accelerometer. /European Journal of Sport Science, /2007/: /*7 *(4)
  • 193-201.
    *Kwak, L*., Kremers, S.P.J., Visscher, T.L.S., van Baak, M.A. &
  • Brug, J.
    Behavioural and cognitive effects of a worksite-based weight gain prevention
    program: The NHF-NRG In Balance-project. /Journal of Occupational
    Environmental Medicine/, 2009: *51 *(12)
  • 1437-46. PMID:19952793.
    *Kwak, L*., Kremers, S.P.J., Bergman P, Ruiz, J.R., Rizzo, N.S. &
  • Sjöström,
    M. Associations between physical activity, fitness, and academic achievement.
    /Journal of Pediatrics, /2009/:/*155 *(6)
  • 914-8. PMID:19643438.
    *Kwak, L*., Kremers, S.P.J., Candel, M.J.J.M, Visscher, T.L.S., Brug, J. &

  • van Baak, M.A. Changes in skinfold thickness and waist circumference after 12
    and 24 months resulting from the NHF-NRG In Balance-project. /International
    Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, /2010: *7 *(7)
  • 26.
    PMID:20370934.
    Ruiz, J.R., Ortega, F.B., Castillo, R., Martín-Matillas, M., *Kwak, L*.,
    Vicente-Rodríguez, G., Noriega, J., Tercedor, P., Sjöström, M. &
  • Moreno,
    L.A. Physical Activity, Fitness, Weight Status and Cognitive Performance in
    Adolescents
  • The AVENA Study. /Journal of Pediatrics, /2010: *157 (*6)

  • 917-22. PMID:20673915.
    *Kwak, L.*, Proper, K.I., Hagströmer, M. &
  • Sjöström, M. The repeatability
    and validity of questionnaires assessing occupational physical activity - a
    systematic review. /Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health/,
    2011 Jan: *37*(1)
  • 6-29. PMID: 20802979.
    Ortega, F.B., Ruiz, J.R., Labayen, I., *Kwak, L*., Harro, J., Oja, L.,
    Veidebaum, T. &
  • Sjöström, M. Sleep duration and activity levels in Estonian
    and Swedish children and adolescents. /European Journal of Applied
    Physiology, /2011/ /Oct:* 111*(10)
  • 2615-23. PMID:21380543.
    *Kwak, L*., Hagströmer, M. &
  • Sjöström, M. Can the IPAQ-L be used to assess
    occupational physical activity? /Journal of Physical Activity and Health/,
    2012: *Nov* *9(*8)
  • 1130-7. PMID: 22207150.
    Hagströmer, M., Ainsworth, B.E., *Kwak, L.* &
  • Bowles, H.R. A checklist for
    evaluating the methodological quality of validation studies on self-reported
    instruments for physical activity and sedentary behavior. J/ournal of
    Physical Activity and Health, /2012
  • / /*Jan 9 *(Suppl 1):S29-36. PMID:
    22287445.
    Ortega, F.B., Ruiz, J.R., Labayen, I., Hurtig-Wennlöf, A., Harro, J., *Kwak,
    L.*, Oja, L., Merenäkk, L., Veidebaum, T. &
  • Sjöström, M. Role of
    socio-cultural factors on changes in fitness and adiposity in youth: A 6-year
    follow-up study. /Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease, /2013

  • 23(9):883-890. PMID: 22795868.
    Cook, T.L., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Maes, L., Haerens, L., Grammatikaki, E.,
    Widhalm, K., *Kwak, L.*, Plada, M., Moreno, L.A., Tountas, Y., Zampelas, A. &

  • Manios, Y. on behalf of the HELENA group. Psychosocial determinants and
    perceived environmental barriers as mediators of the effectiveness of a
    web-based tailored intervention promoting physical activity in adolescents:
    the HELENA Activ-O-Meter. /Journal of Physical Activity and Health, /2014:
    11(4)/ /741-751. PMID:23676337.
    Cook, T.L., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Maes, L., Haerens, L., Grammatikaki, E.,
    Widhalm, K., Kersting, M., *Kwak, L.*, Plada, M., Moreno, L.A. &
  • Manios, Y.
    on behalf of the HELENA group. Moderators of the effectiveness of a web-based
    tailored intervention promoting physical activity in adolescents: the HELENA
    Activ-O-Meter. /Journal of School Health, /2014: 84 (4)
  • 256-266. PMID:
    24617909.
    *Kwak, L.*, Hagströmer, M., Jensen, I. Lohela-Karlsson, M., Alipour, A. &

  • Schäfer-Elinder, L. Promoting physical activity and healthy dietary
    behaviour. The role of the occupational health services: a scoping review.
    /Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, /2014: 56 (1)
  • 35-46.
    PMID:24351888.
    Hagströmer, M., *Kwak, L*., Oja, P. &
  • Sjöström, M. A 6-year longitudinal
    study of accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary time in
    Swedish adults. /Journal of Science and Medicine in Sports and Exercise/, /
    /2015/:/18(5)
  • 553-557. PMID:25277849.
    *Kwak, L*., Berrigan, D., Van Domelen, D., Sjöström, M. &
  • Hagströmer, M.
    Examining differences in physical activity levels by employment status and/or
    job activity level: Gender-specific comparisons between the United States and
    Sweden. /Journal of Science and Medicine in Sports and Exercise/, /
    /2016/:/19(6)
  • 482-487. PMID:26095371.
    Martinsson, C., Lohela Karlsson, M., *Kwak, L*., Bergström, G., Hellman, T.
    What incentives influence employers to engage in workplace health
    interventions? /BMC Public Health/, 2016
  • 16 (854). PMID: 27552912.
    *Kwak, L., * Wåhlin, C., Stigmar, K., Jensen, I. Developing a practice
    guideline for the occupational health services through a community of
    practice: description and evaluation of the guideline development process.
    /BMC Public Health/, 2017
  • 17 (89). PMID: 28100201.
    Björk Brämberg, E., Nyman, T., *Kwak, L*., Alipour A., Bergström
  • G.,
    Schäfer Elinder, L., Hermansson, U., Jensen, I. Development of
    evidence-based practice in occupational health services in Sweden. A 3-year
    follow-up of attitudes, barriers and facilitators. /International Archives of
    Occupational and Environmental Health, /2017
  • 90 (4): 335-348. PMID:
    28204870.
    Leavy, B., *Kwak, L*., Hagströmer, M., Franzén, E. Evaluation and
    implementation of highly challenging balance training in clinical practice
    for people with Parkinson's disease: protocol for the HiBalance
    effectiveness-implementation trial. /BMC Neurology/, 2017
  • 17(27). PMID:
    28173775.
    Björk Brämberg, E., Bergström, G., Jensen, I., Hagberg, J. &
  • *Kwak, L*.
    Effects of yoga, strength training and advice on back pain: A randomized
    controlled trial. /BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders/, 2017
  • 18 (1):132. PMID:
    28356091.
    Arapovic-Johansson, B., Wåhlin C., *Kwak, L*., Björklund, C., Jensen, J.
    Work-related stress assessed by a text message single-item stress question.
    /Occupational Medicine, 2017
  • 67(8): 601-608. /PMID: 29016877/ /
    Bergström, G., Lohela-Karlsson, M., *Kwak, L., * Bodin, L., Jensen, I.,
    Torgén, M., Nybergh, L. Preventing sickness absenteeism among employees with
    common mental disorders or stress-related symptoms at work: Design of a
    cluster randomized controlled trial of a problem-solving based intervention
    versus care-as-usual conducted at the Occupational Health Services/. BMC
    Public Health, 2017
  • 1217(1):436. PMID: 28494753. /
    Bergsten, E.L., *Kwak L*/./, Vingård, E., * *Mathiassen, S.E., Daily shoulder
    pain among flight baggage handlers and its association with work tasks and
    upper arm postures on the same day. /Annals of Work Exposures and Health,
    /2017
  • 61(9): 1145-1153. PMID: 29136416.
    Axén, I. *Kwak L*, Hagberg, J., Jensen, I./ /Does physical activity buffer
    insomnia due to back and neck pain?/ Plos One, 2017
  • 12 (9). PMID:
    28931026. /
    Aboagye, E. Hagberg, J., Axén, I., *Kwak, L*., Lohela-Karlsson, M.,
    Skillgate, E., Dahlgren, G., Jensen, I. Individual preferences for physical
    exercise as secondary prevention for non-specific low back pain: A discrete
    choice experiment./ Plos One, 2017
  • 12 (12). PMID: 29244841. /
    Dohrn I., Sjöström, M., *Kwak, L*., Oja, P., Hagströmer, M.
    Accelerometer-measured sedentary time and physical activity - a 15 year
    follow-up of mortality in a Swedish population-based cohort. /Journal of
    Science and Medicine in Sports and Exercise, 2018
  • /21 (7): 702-707.
    / /PMID: 29128418. / /
    Bergsten, E.L., Mathiassen, S.E., Larsson, J. &
  • *Kwak L*/./* *Implementation
    of an ergonomic intervention in a Swedish flight baggage handling company - A
    process evaluation. /Plos One, /2018
  • 13 (3). PMID: 29513671.
    Arapovic-Johansson, B., Wåhlin C., Hagberg J., * Kwak, L*., Björklund, C.,
    Jensen, J. Participatory work place intervention for stress prevention in
    primary health care. A randomized controlled trial. /European Journal of Work
    and Organizational Psychology, /2018
  • 27(2): 219-234./ /
    Dohrn I., Sjöström, M., *Kwak, L*., Oja, P., Hagströmer, M. Replacing
    sedentary time with physical activity: a 15-year follow-up of mortality in a
    national cohort. /Clinical Epidemiology, /2018
  • 10: 179-186. PMID: 29416378.
    Björk Brämberg, E., Jensen, I., *Kwak, L*. Nation-wide implementation of a
    national policy for evidence-based rehabilitation facilitating return to work
    - a survey of perceived use, facilitators and barriers. /Disability and
    Rehabilitation, 2018
  • 4:1-9. /PMID: 30286664.
    Leitari, N., Kremers, S.P.J., Hagberg, J., Björklund, C. *Kwak, L*.
    Associations between job-strain, physical activity, health status and sleep
    quality among Swedish municipality workers. /Journal of Occupational and
    Environmental Medicine, /2018
  • Dec 11. PMID: 30540651.
    1)

Research

  • My research activities are related to intervention and implementation
    research in the field of worker health. This means that I conduct research on
    how the health of the working population can be promoted at the workplace and
    how ill-health can be prevented. This research encompasses a broad range of
    research activities including gaining knowledge on determinants of health and
    health behaviour through observational studies, testing the effectiveness of
    methods targeting these determinants through intervention studies, assessing
    the methodological quality of measurement instruments through methodological
    studies and gaining knowledge on how effective interventions can be
    implemented into practice through implementation research studies.
    I am involved in several ongoing research projects. I am for example PI for
    a large implementation study financed by AFA-insurance, which is being
    conducted among 20 public primary schools in Sweden. The aim of the study is
    to compare the effectiveness of a multifaceted implementation strategy versus
    a single implementation strategy for implementing the Guideline for the
    prevention of mental ill-health at the workplace within schools. The
    effectiveness will be compared with regard to the extent to which the
    recommendations are implemented within the schools (implementation
    effectiveness) and with regard to social and organisational risk factors for
    mental ill-health, absenteeism and presenteeism (intervention effectiveness).
    More information about the project can be found at the AFA-website [1]. You
    can read about some of the other research projects I am involved in here:
    Preventing sickness absenteeism among employees with common mental disorders
    or stress-related symptoms at work: Design of a cluster randomized controlled
    trial of a problem-solving based intervention versus care-as-usual conducted
    at the Occupational Health Services. [2]
    Facilitators and barriers and ethical aspects in relation to cooperation with
    the aim of increasing return to work among individuals with mental ill
    health. [3]
    Evaluation and implementation of highly challenging balance training in
    clinical practice for people with Parkinson's disease: protocol for the
    HiBalance effectiveness-implementation trial. [4]
    [1] https://www.afaforsakring.se/forskning/program/hallbart-arbetsliv/hallbart-arbetsliv-arskonferens/
    [2] https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-017-4329-1
    [3] https://medarbetare.ki.se/people/elisbj?_ga=2.68352018.2039568949.1566540740-114836326.1556870257
    [4] https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-017-0809-2

Teaching

  • I am since 2011 course leader of the doctoral course Public Health
    Intervention and Implementation research. I give lectures for undergraduate
    and graduate programmes on the topic of intervention and implementation
    research and supervise master-and doctaral students.
    For information on the doctoral course Public Health Intervention and
    Implementation research 2019 [1]please click on the link of the course or on
    the link of the doctoral program in Public Health Sciences [2]
    [1] http://kiwas.ki.se/katalog/kursplan/show/1978?_ga=2.180969380.2039568949.1566540740-114836326.1556870257
    [2] https://staff.ki.se/doctoral-programme-in-public-health-science-phsp

Articles

All other publications

Grants

Employments

  • Senior Lecturer, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2019-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2017

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