An Evaluation of Lifestyle Health Coaching Programs Using Trained Health Coaches and Evidence-Based Curricula at 6 Months Over 6 Years. Issue 6 (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Budzowski, Amanda R.; Parkinson, Michael D.; Silfee, Valerie J.
• Is Part Of: American journal of health promotion. Volume 33:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 912
• Page End: 915
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: health coaching -- lifestyle intervention -- behavior change; Health promotion -- Periodicals; Health Promotion; Health promotion; Periodicals; Periodicals; 613.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0890117118824252
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-1171

Abstract

Purpose: Describe health plan member-level participation, completion, and 6-month outcomes for 5 lifestyle health coaching programs offered by an integrated delivery and financing system (IDFS) over 6 years. Design: Case series study of 5 lifestyle programs with 180-day follow-up. Setting: Large Western PA integrated delivery and financing system (IDFS) deployed multiple coaching modalities for diverse insurance-member enrolled population. Participants: A total of 14 591 health plan members choosing a lifestyle health coaching program. Intervention: Evidence- and curriculum-based lifestyle health coaching programs delivered by 1 of 4 interactive modalities. Measures: A single metric was used as an overall indicator of clinical success for each program. Success measures include a ≥5% reduction of self-reported baseline weight, meeting physical activity guidelines, and 7-day point prevalence abstinence from tobacco. For stress and nutrition, where no single target measure exists, a metric was created that represented a net improvement across all key outcomes measured. Analysis: The proportion of members meeting target outcomes were calculated and described across all time points and modalities. Results: At 180 days, 77% of enrolled members reported reduced stress, 7% quit tobacco, 50.5% met physical activity guidelines, 65.2% improved nutrition, and 44.2% lost 5% or more of baseline weight. Conclusion: This evaluation describes the real-world effectiveness of evidence- and curriculum-based lifestyle improvement programs delivered by trained health coaches to a diverse health plan member population.