My Health Coach Study



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Healthy Studies
Therapuetic Areas:Other
Healthy:No
Age Range:21 - 100
Updated:4/21/2016
Start Date:August 2014
End Date:June 2016

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The "My Health Coach Study" seeks to determine if health coaching by a medical assistant can
help patients have better sleep, a better diet, be more physically active or lose weight,
according to the recommendation of their health care provider.

The aim of the study is to determine whether medical assistants (MAs) can assist primary
care providers to achieve healthier lifestyles via better sleep, food choices, weight loss
and/or increased physical activity in their patients. The hypothesis driving this research
is that health coaching can be done by existing medical support staff to facilitate healthy
lifestyles in a primary care setting. Coaching can maximize the health of the patient
population in a cost-effective way if the coaching service is integrated into primary care
clinics with minimal capital investment at the outset. A major focus will be on behaviors
associated with weight management since this is the most common health issue in the U.S.
today. This method, if successful, should be easily adaptable to other health behaviors and
in most any medical practice that seeks to improve the health of its patient base in a
cost-effective way.

In order to achieve a change in health behaviors, and especially weight loss, regular
follow-up contacts are needed. Previous research has shown health coaching to be effective,
but this has utilized programs that "add on" to the existing clinic structure. This type of
coaching model is difficult to sustain. Utilizing existing staff for health coaching is a
method we propose to more fully integrate this service into primary care clinics.

Inclusion Criteria:

- adults age 21 and over

- referred by primary care physician for health coaching

- have telephone for follow-up

- English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

- pregnant or trying to become pregnant
We found this trial at
1
site
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Principal Investigator: Carissa Orizondo, MD
Phone: 734-998-7390
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mi
from
Ann Arbor, MI
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