Health Coaching and Its Effectiveness

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Table of Contents

Introduction
History of Health Coaching
Research Findings on the Effectiveness of Health Coaching
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Scientists and medical professionals engage in numerous studies to develop evidence-based concepts for improving patients’ health outcomes. One of the common models is known as wellness (or health) coaching. This paper digs deeper into the history of health coaching and the latest developments associated with the concept. This literature review paper also provides an overview of findings on the effectiveness of the process.

History of Health Coaching

Although wellness coaching is embraced by many individuals and professionals to promote behavior change, very little is known about the concept’s history. The wellness coaching model focuses on a number of evidence-based practices, including conversations, clinical strategies, and medical interventions to encourage patients to change their health behaviors. The approach emerged in 2010 when Margaret Moore and Karen Lawson founded the National Consortium for Credentialing Health and Wellness Coaches (Harter et al., 2016). The individuals designed a powerful team that led to the standardization of wellness programs. They went further and formulated a number of approaches that could be used to re-pattern the behaviors and experiences of different clients based on their needs.

Through the use of discussions and engagements, different stakeholders managed to develop powerful initiatives and interventions for informing behavioral changes in health. Some of the common practices associated with health coaching include goal setting, prevention, and active listening (Dejonghe, Becker, Froboese, & Schaller, 2017). The approach has become a standardized healthcare practice since it has the potential to empower patients to transform their health goals and develop a new sense of wisdom.

Research Findings on the Effectiveness of Health Coaching

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that health coaching is an evidence-based process that promotes sustainable, healthy, and meaningful behavior change by tasking clients with coming up with inner understandings or notions (Harter et al., 2016). Several studies have been done to examine the effectiveness and applicability of health coaching in different settings. For instance, Jonk et al. (2015) observed that the use of wellness coaching reduced costs and expenditures associated with care delivery processes. This was the case because different interviewees clearly indicated that individuals suffering from chronic conditions such as asthma and cancer were able to achieve higher goals using the technique. Consequently, the number of resources and time incurred to offer advanced medical services reduced significantly.

Another study conducted by Dejonghe et al. (2017) focused on the long-term implications and benefits of wellness coaching. Although the practice was becoming popular in different health settings and environments, many skeptics indicated that its long-term gains were unknown or unclearly defined (Harter et al., 2016). However, the researchers revealed that the method was appropriate and capable of delivering meaningful benefits to different patients. For instance, those who were suffering from chronic diseases were observed to record reduced stress levels.

Dejonghe et al. (2017) observed that the use of wellness coaching was critical in empowering patients with various conditions. The study revealed that the method led to reduced re-hospitalization rates in different patients. Additionally, the study revealed that the level of mortality in persons affected by chronic diseases was reduced significantly. These results explain why scholars have encouraged future researchers to examine how various wellness empowerment programs could be used to support individuals affected by a wide range of psychological conditions.

Jonk et al. (2015) observed that health coaching interventions could be applied successfully to transform the outcomes and lifestyles of patients with knee osteoarthritis. Coaching sessions made it easier for the targeted participants to record reduced health expenditures and costs (Sherifali, Viscardi, Wai, & Ali, 2016). The method was also observed to empower more individuals to re-pattern their lifestyles and pursue their objectives. Consequently, the researchers proposed that the intervention approach could be applied in different primary care settings to maximize the health outcomes of more patients.

Harter et al. (2016) conducted a powerful study to explore the role of health coaching in improving patient outcomes. Using a qualitative approach, Harter et al. (2016) observed that the use of positive interventions led to positive outcomes. In order to produce meaningful results, the study indicated that the intervention sessions should be prolonged depending on the unique needs of every client. This analysis shows that health coaching is a powerful strategy that can result in positive outcomes and can make it possible for more people to achieve their potential. The researchers were also keen to support the power of evidence-based health coaching interventions. Throughout the process, interventionists and psychotherapists should begin by monitoring the unique needs of the targeted patients.

The comprehensive lifestyle health coaching (LHC) program has emerged as a new approach that has made it easier for more persons to transform their health outcomes. This approach has been observed to produce meaningful results in health settings and working environments (Gordon et al., 2017). The most important thing is for individuals to redesign the model in such a way that it addresses the unique needs of every client.

From these evidence-based studies, it is clear that health coaching is a powerful practice that can improve the level of treatment adherence. The concept empowers individuals to engage in self-management and to embrace various practices that can result in positive health outcomes. The inclusion of different participants and stakeholders is a powerful approach that can make the coaching process successful (Dejonghe et al., 2017). Additionally, health coaching professionals must be keen to analyze the unique challenges facing the targeted person. This knowledge will empower them to develop evidence-based and personalized coaching models that can deliver quality outcomes.

The fact that health coaching can be expanded to include areas such as psychotherapy, nutrition, and social work explains why it is helpful. Patients can benefit from the process and embrace appropriate behaviors that can result in positive health outcomes. Those who have specific health conditions can receive timely information for managing them efficiently. The concept of personalized health coaching has also emerged whereby the unique needs of specific individuals are identified and addressed (Benzo, Kirsch, Hathaway, McEvoy, & Vickers, 2017). The process can be designed in such a way that timely services are available to more people.

Physicians and practitioners can also support several patients simultaneously, thereby maximizing the number of people who have access to health services (Thom et al., 2016). These aspects show conclusively that health coaching is an effective model for improving the lives of many patients with different illnesses. Healthcare practitioners should, therefore, embrace it in an attempt to transform the outcomes of more people.

Several studies have been done to examine the effectiveness and applicability of telephone-based health coaching (TBHC) in patients suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. For instance, Harter et al. (2016) observed that this method or approach was capable of reducing the level of hospitalization in a number of patient groups. This was the case because the model made it easier for medical professionals and counselors to coach them efficiently.

This strategy is also capable of reducing mortality rates in patients suffering from somatic illnesses. Many individuals supported using telephone-based coaching find it easier to lead better lives despite having terminal conditions. Harter et al. (2016) also encourage researchers to conduct more studies in order to understand the most appropriate duration for TBHC.

However, there is some gap regarding the use, appropriateness, and effectiveness of health coaching. According to Harter et al. (2016), there is a need for future researchers to examine how different persons respond to health coaching based on their clinical manifestations or signs. Scholars should also analyze how various concepts or interventions can be combined to come up with the most appropriate health coaching approach (Jonk et al., 2015). The ultimate goal is to ensure that the benefits of the process are maximized, thereby supporting the needs and lifestyles of many people.

Conclusion

This discussion has revealed that health coaching is a modern idea that has revolutionized the nature of the medical care delivery process. This new approach has been in use within the past eight years. The results of past studies provide support for the model’s effectiveness and outline its numerous benefits. For instance, the method has been observed to reduce medical costs and the rate of re-hospitalization.

Beneficiaries of the approach have also recorded positive health outcomes and lifestyle changes. The model can also be personalized depending on the unique needs of the targeted client or patient. Future researchers should, therefore, focus on the best strategies to maximize the benefits and effectiveness of wellness coaching. They should also present new proposals to ensure that the concept is applied efficiently in a wide range of fields and health settings.

References

Benzo, R. P., Kirsch, J. L., Hathaway, J. C., McEvoy, C. E., & Vickers, K. S. (2017). Health coaching in severe COPD after hospitalization: A qualitative analysis of a large randomized study. Respiratory Care, 62(11), 1403-1411. Web.

Dejonghe, L. A., Becker, J., Froboese, I., & Schaller, A. (2017). Long-term effectiveness of health coaching in rehabilitation and prevention: A systematic review. Patient Education and Counseling, 100(9), 1643-1653. Web.

Gordon, N. F., Salmon, R. D., Wright, B. S., Faircloth, G. C., Reid, K. S., & Gordon, T. L. (2017). Clinical effectiveness of lifestyle health coaching: Case study of an evidence-based program. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 11(2), 1-13. Web.

Harter, M., Dirmaier, J., Dwinger, S., Kriston, L., Herbarth, L., Siegmund-Schultze, E., … Konig, H. (2016). Effectiveness of telephone-based health coaching for patients with chronic conditions: A randomized controlled trial. PLOS One, 11(9), 1-18. Web.

Jonk, Y., Lawson, K., O’Connor, H., Riise, K. S., Eisenberg, D., Dowd, B., Kreitzer, M. J. (2015). How effective is health coaching in reducing health services expenditures? Medical Care, 53(2), 133-140. Web.

Sherifali, D., Viscardi, V., Wai, J., & Ali, M. U. (2016). Evaluating the effect of a diabetes health coach in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 40(1), 84-94. Web.

Thom, D. H., Wolf, J., Gardner, H., DeVore, D., Lin, M., Ma, A., … Saba, G. (2016). A qualitative study of how health coaches support patients in making health-related decisions and behavioral changes. Annals of Family Medicine, 14(6), 509-516. Web.

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