The Perceived Impact on Wellbeing After Health and Wellness Coaching - a Qualitative Evaluation

Health and wellness coaching (HWC) is an evidence-based intervention to help individuals gain the knowledge and skills to undertake health-related behaviour change in their lives. The Primary Prevention of Stroke in the Community (PREVENTS) study was a randomised, controlled trial that examined the effectiveness of HWC as a primary prevention strategy for individuals identified as being at moderate to high risk of CVD or stroke. The aim of the current study was to explore the subjective experience of HWC and the impact on wellbeing in a subset of PREVENTS participants 2-3 years post participation. Eight participants, who were previously enrolled in the PREVENTS study, were interviewed. Research was undertaken using transcendental phenomenology as the qualitative methodology, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. A number of important insights for health-related behaviour change emerged from the participant’s subjective experience of HWC. Awareness, knowledge, intrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy were identified as important for health behaviour modification to occur. The supporting role of the coach and social support networks were essential for facilitating and sustaining long-term lifestyle change. Participants who had changed health behaviour in physical, psychological and social domains of their lives, experienced the highest levels of wellbeing, quality of life, and life satisfaction 2-3 years after HWC. Outcomes from the study may inform future strategies for health-related behaviour change and support the efficacy of HWC as a primary prevention intervention for individuals at high-risk of CVD and stroke