evidence-based research
Research findings on integrative health coaching as reported in the Journal of General Internal Medicine and Diabetes Educator:
A Multidimensional Integrative Medicine Intervention to Improve Cardiovascular Risk
- Randomized 154 primary care patients
- 10 months Personal Health Planning led by health coaches
- Usual Care
- Baseline Health Risk Assessment, created health vision and goals
- Group education and individual phone coaching
Results:
Improved readiness to change, health behaviors (eating, exercise) and
reduced cardiovascular disease risks related to weight loss and increased exercise. – Edelman et al. (2006). Journal of General Internal Medicine
Integrative Health Coaching for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes:
A Randomized Clinical Trial
- 56 patients with Type 2 Diabetes randomized to usual care or 14 x 30 phone coaching sessions over 6 months
- 55% <$50K annual household income
- 59% minorities
- 59% without college degrees
- Coaching clients defined individualized vision for health with goals aligning with life values
Results:
Those in integrative health coaching improved:
- Patient activation
- Health behavioral (exercise, medical adherence)
- Psychosocial outcomes (social support, benefit-finding)
- Biological indices (A1c improved with those with baseline poor glycemic control)
- When usual care group was given integrative health coaching, also saw improvements in mood, perceived stress, quality of life and negative perception of illness.
– Wolever et al, Diabetes Educator, Volume 36, No. 4, July/August 2010.
