Preliminary investigation of the student-delivered Community Outreach teleheAlth program for Covid education and Health promotion (COACH)

Michelle C Yang; Cam Clayton; Devin Harris; Chelsea Pelletier; Julia Schmidt; Jill G Zwicker; Brodie M Sakakibara

doi:10.1093/fampra/cmac079

Preliminary investigation of the student-delivered Community Outreach teleheAlth program for Covid education and Health promotion (COACH)

Fam Pract. 2023 Feb 9;40(1):30-38. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmac079.

Authors

Michelle C Yang^{1

2}, Cam Clayton³, Devin Harris^{4

5}, Chelsea Pelletier⁶, Julia Schmidt⁷, Jill G Zwicker^{7

8

9}, Brodie M Sakakibara^{2

7}

Affiliations

¹ Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
² Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
³ Vancouver Fraser Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁴ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁵ Quality and Patient Safety, Interior Health Authority, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
⁶ School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada.
⁷ Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁸ Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁹ BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 public health restrictions (i.e. physical distancing) compromise individuals' ability to self-manage their health behaviours and may increase the risks of adverse health events.

Objectives: To evaluate the student-delivered Community Outreach teleheAlth program for Covid education and Health promotion (COACH) on health-directed behaviour (self-management) among older adults (≥65 years of age, n = 75). Secondary objectives estimated the influence of COACH on perceived depression, anxiety, and stress; social support; health-related quality of life; health promotion self-efficacy; and other self-management domains.

Methods: COACH was developed to provide chronic disease management and prevention support among older adults via telephone or videoconferencing platforms (i.e. Zoom). In this single-group, pre-post study, our primary outcome was measured using the health-directed behaviour subscale of the Health Education Impact Questionnaire. Secondary measures included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, Medical Outcomes Study: Social Support Survey, MOS Short Form-36, and Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale. Paired sample t-tests were used to analyse outcome changes.

Results: Mean age of participants was 72.4 years (58.7% female; 80% ≥2 chronic conditions). Health-directed behaviour significantly improved after COACH (P < 0.001, d = 0.45). Improved health promotion self-efficacy (P < 0.001, d = 0.44) and decreased mental health were also observed (P < 0.001, d = -1.69).

Discussion: COACH likely contributed to improved health-directed behaviour and health promotion self-efficacy despite the diminished mental health-related quality of life during COVID-19. Our findings also highlight the benefits of using health professional students for the delivery of virtual health promotion programs.

Clinical trial information: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04492527.

Keywords: activities of daily living; chronic disease; health education; health promotion; self-management; telemedicine.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
COVID-19* / epidemiology
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Chronic Disease
Community-Institutional Relations
Female
Health Promotion
Humans
Male
Quality of Life
Students
Telemedicine*

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04492527