Telephone-delivered health behaviour change support for people with a mental health condition: the coaches’ perspective

Abstract

Background People with a mental health condition experience a greater prevalence of chronic disease and reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. Modifiable health risk behaviours, such as physical inactivity and poor nutrition are major contributing factors. Population-level health coaching delivering behavioural change support via telephone for healthy eating, physical activity, and weight management is an opportunity utilised by this group to support improvement in healthy lifestyle behaviours. Health coaches offer a valuable perspective into the provision of services to this high-risk group. This study aims to qualitatively explore coaches’ experiences in providing support to these participants, consider factors which may contribute to engagement and outcomes; and potentially inform future service improvement. Method A qualitative study design was employed involving semi-structured telephone interviews with six coaches employed in a telephone-based behaviour change support service in New South Wales, Australia, between April and July 2019. Interview data was analysed using an inductive thematic analysis. Results Coaches believed that the service was of benefit to people with a mental health condition, however making changes to health risk behaviours was potentially more difficult for this group of service users. Coaches indicated that in supporting this group there was a greater focus on building confidence and readiness to change. They noted that improvement in mental health as a result of physical health changes was an additional ‘measure of success’ of particular relevance. Coaches expressed a desire to receive more mental health training to better deliver coaching to participants with a mental health condition. Program variables such as limited call length were posed as possible barriers to care. Conclusion Further training and additional support for coaches, in additon to considering variations to aspects of service delivery may assist in improving engagement and outcomes for participants with mental health conditions. Examining mental health consumers’ experiences when engaging with telephone coaching services would be an important area to address in further research.

Forças envolvidas na construção da maternagem na pandemia de COVID-19

“…Além disso, com vistas a contribuir para gerenciamento de fatores estressantes à mulher, podem ser implementadas estratégias assistenciais por meio de ligações telefônicas 25 , encontros virtuais 26 , abordagem psicoeducacional baseada na web 27 e aplicativos para celular 28 . Intervenções em saúde, de modo individual e em grupo, são ferramentas capazes de prevenir e reduzir o estresse parental pós-parto durante desastres em grande escala, como a pandemia de COVID-19 20 .…”

Effectiveness of referral to a population-level telephone coaching service for improving health risk behaviours in people with a mental health condition: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

“…Described above, the REDCap randomisation sequence ensures researchers and data collectors remain blinded to the allocation sequence until the baseline survey is complete [ 29 , 30 ]. Whilst telephone interviewers will not directly state the allocation to the participant, they will inform intervention participants that they will be referred to the GHS.…”

“…A recent study analysed service data from 11,925 GHS clients who enrolled in the coaching program between January 2015 and December 2017, which confirmed people with a mental health condition were making use of the GHS, with 26% of clients reporting a mental health condition [ 29 ]. A subsequent study of service data from 5629 GHS participants enrolled between January 2018 and October 2019, of whom 33% reported a mental health condition [ 30 ], compared service engagement and behavioural outcomes of clients with and without a mental health condition [ 30 ]. Those with a mental health condition were more likely to have actively withdrawn or been lost to follow-up and less likely to complete the coaching program (31% vs 36% completed).…”

“…Those with a mental health condition were more likely to have actively withdrawn or been lost to follow-up and less likely to complete the coaching program (31% vs 36% completed). Among both participant groups, those who completed the program made significant improvements to fruit and vegetable consumption, time spent walking and moderate physical activity, weight, and BMI, whilst those without a mental health condition also made improvements to vigorous physical activity and waist circumference [ 30 ]. This evidence further supports the findings of the literature that suggests behaviour change may be more difficult for people with a mental health condition but shows they can improve health risk behaviours through use of a population-level telephone coaching service.…”