Rethorn Z1,2, Pettitt C2
1Duke University, Doctor of Physical Therapy Division, Durham, United States, 2Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Provo, United States
Background: Health coaching has emerged as a useful strategy to prevent noncommunicable diseases which are responsible for the majority of disease burden throughout the developed world. Health coaching aims to improve individuals' health through changing health behaviors such as promoting physical activity, smoking cessation, improving diet, improving sleep, and reducing stress. To date, health coaching research demonstrates positive effects on health outcomes for participants with varied chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers. Given the recent increased integration of health coaching into physical therapy practice, there has been a subsequent rise in research examining the effects of health coaching provided by physical therapists. However, there is a lack of literature which summarizes the effectiveness of health coaching delivered by physical therapists to change health behaviors.
Purpose: To systematically review the effects of health coaching delivered by physical therapists to improve health behaviors.
Methods: Cochrane, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PEDro, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to May 26, 2018 to identify randomized controlled trials examining the effects of health coaching delivered by physical therapists among adults aged 18 years or older. Two reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts independently to determine study eligibility based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Scale. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias assessment tool. Data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form describing study methods, design, and outcomes.
Results: Eleven trials met the inclusion criteria for this study. Health coaching produced positive effects on physical activity (five studies) as well as physiological and psychological secondary outcomes. The authors were unable to perform a meta-analysis due to heterogeneity in methods and results of the included trials.
Conclusion(s): The research on the effectiveness of health coaching for health behavior outcomes delivered by physical therapists is mixed. Data indicates statistically significant changes in some health behavior, physiological, and psychological outcomes.
Implications: Given the high prevalence and costs related to noncommunicable diseases and the positive results of health coaching in other areas, future quality RCTs are required to determine the relative effectiveness of coaching delivered by PTs given the heterogeneity of results and outcomes presented in this paper.
Keywords: health promotion, health behavior, wellness coaching
Funding acknowledgements: No financial support was used for this review.
Purpose: To systematically review the effects of health coaching delivered by physical therapists to improve health behaviors.
Methods: Cochrane, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PEDro, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to May 26, 2018 to identify randomized controlled trials examining the effects of health coaching delivered by physical therapists among adults aged 18 years or older. Two reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts independently to determine study eligibility based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Scale. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias assessment tool. Data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form describing study methods, design, and outcomes.
Results: Eleven trials met the inclusion criteria for this study. Health coaching produced positive effects on physical activity (five studies) as well as physiological and psychological secondary outcomes. The authors were unable to perform a meta-analysis due to heterogeneity in methods and results of the included trials.
Conclusion(s): The research on the effectiveness of health coaching for health behavior outcomes delivered by physical therapists is mixed. Data indicates statistically significant changes in some health behavior, physiological, and psychological outcomes.
Implications: Given the high prevalence and costs related to noncommunicable diseases and the positive results of health coaching in other areas, future quality RCTs are required to determine the relative effectiveness of coaching delivered by PTs given the heterogeneity of results and outcomes presented in this paper.
Keywords: health promotion, health behavior, wellness coaching
Funding acknowledgements: No financial support was used for this review.
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing; Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Ethics committee: Institutional Review Board
Reason not required: Not required due to secondary research of published trials
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
