Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the one-year-effect of a single visit to a health coach on perceived health and exercise level in 50-year-old citizens.
Design
One factor design randomised controlled trial.
Setting
Participants were randomly selected from the Swedish Population Register.
Subjects
50-year-old residents of the town of Alingsås, Sweden (n = 105).
Intervention
The intervention group (n = 52) received a single one-hour visit to a health coach. The control group (n = 53) received no intervention.
Main outcome measures
Change over 12 months in the SF-36 dimensions physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health, physical component summary and mental component summary. Reported health transition at follow-up. Change in exercise level.
Results
The control group changed their perceived health more favourable than the intervention group in the following dimensions of the SF-36; general health (p = 0.0055–0.025), role-emotional (p = 0.034–0.040) and mental component summary (p = 0.033–0.073).
Conclusion
A single visit to a health coach does not improve perceived health or exercise-level in 50-year-old citizens. On the contrary it may make perceived health worse.
Research on health coaching has emerged in the last 20 years, but is diverse and the characteristics of a successful health coaching intervention are still unknown.
There is a lack of randomised controlled trials evaluating long-term effectiveness of health coaching.
This randomised controlled trial concludes that a single visit to a health coach does not improve, but rather impairs, perceived health in 50-year olds.
Key points
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the participating 50-year old resident.
Disclosure statement
No conflict of interest to declare.