HealthyLifetime Program for Improving Health Behaviors

Overseen By Margaret Calarco, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Michigan

Disqualifiers: More than three conditions, Anxiety, Depression, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 8 weeks

300 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if community members can effectively coach people to improve their health through the HealthyLifetime program, similar to nurses. The program is a short-term, virtual health coaching intervention designed to enhance health, resiliency, and self-care in participants. It is open to Michigan residents with no more than three uncomplicated chronic conditions who wish to take charge of their health. Participants must have access to a device with internet capabilities for virtual sessions. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to innovative health coaching methods that could benefit their community.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on health coaching rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that the HealthyLifetime program is safe?

Research has shown that the HealthyLifetime program, which offers online health coaching, is generally easy to follow. Studies have found that this program can help people improve their health habits without causing major side effects. For instance, one study found that participants experienced positive changes, such as better self-care and increased resilience, after completing the program.

The program is personalized, providing guidance through video sessions. Whether a nurse or a community health worker provides the coaching, past trials have reported no major safety issues. This suggests that the program is safe for participants.

In summary, previous studies support that the HealthyLifetime program is safe and can help people improve their health habits, even if they don't have complex chronic conditions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the HealthyLifetime program because it introduces a fresh approach to improving health behaviors, focusing on personalized coaching. Unlike traditional health interventions that might rely on general information dissemination, this program offers tailored guidance from either experienced nurse coaches or community health workers. This person-centered strategy aims to empower individuals, making health improvements more sustainable and engaging. By leveraging the unique strengths of different health professionals, this approach could pave the way for more effective health behavior change.

What evidence suggests that the HealthyLifetime program is effective for improving health behaviors?

Research has shown that the HealthyLifetime program, one of the treatment arms in this trial, can improve healthy habits when community health workers lead it. One study found that participants in the program became more active and improved their diets. The program uses online coaching to encourage self-care and healthier choices. Additionally, involving community health workers can reduce healthcare costs, as other studies have demonstrated significant cost reductions following similar programs. Overall, these findings suggest that community health workers can effectively deliver the HealthyLifetime program and help people achieve better health. Another arm of this trial will evaluate the program when administered by an experienced nurse coach. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kathleen Potempa, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Michigan

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals without complex chronic health conditions who are interested in improving their health, resiliency, and self-care. Participants will receive guidance from community members trained as health coaches.

Inclusion Criteria

I am [Age] years old, born on [DOB], live at [Address], and my contact number is [Phone Number]. I have health issues including [Health Problems].

A score of less than 4 on items related to anxiety and depressive symptoms

Have a computer, iPad (Tablet), or Smartphone with an Internet connection, email address, a working camera, and microphone

Exclusion Criteria

A score of more than 4 on items related to anxiety and depressive symptoms

Are currently participating in any other studies involving diet, weight management, exercise and/or coaching at the current time

I am under 30 years old.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Community members are trained as health coaches to deliver the HealthyLifetime program

4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive health coaching through the HealthyLifetime program delivered by either community health workers or nurse coaches

8 weeks

Virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in self-reported medical visits, satisfaction, and lifestyle habits

12 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• HealthyLifetime

Trial Overview

The study tests if community members can be as effective as nurses when trained to deliver the HealthyLifetime program through a virtual platform. It's a randomized controlled trial comparing outcomes of coaching by community members versus nurses.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Health worker coach Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

HealthyLifetime program is administered by a community health worker

Group II: Nurse Coach Active Control 1 Intervention

HealthyLifetime program is administered by an experienced nurse coach.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Michigan

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,891

Recruited

6,458,000+

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Collaborator

Trials

13

Recruited

10,900+

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Collaborator

Trials

41

Recruited

31,230,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Healthy Lifetime (HL) health coaching program significantly improved health habits in participants aged 50 and older with chronic conditions after 8 weeks, and these improvements were maintained at 20 weeks, indicating its efficacy in promoting healthier lifestyles.

Participants in the HL group also showed improved self-care agency, particularly those with high blood pressure, although this improvement did not last beyond the initial 8 weeks, highlighting the need for ongoing support in managing chronic conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized trial of a theory-driven model of health coaching for older adults: short-term and sustained outcomes. Potempa, K., Calarco, M., Flaherty-Robb, M., et al.[2023]

HealtheSteps™ is a lifestyle prescription program that effectively engages participants at risk for chronic diseases through bi-monthly coaching sessions focused on physical activity and healthy eating, showing high acceptability among both coaches and participants.

Participants appreciated the program's accountability features but suggested enhancements like increased feedback from coaches and more resources on healthy eating, indicating areas for improvement without needing major changes to the program's structure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Process evaluation of the HealtheSteps™ lifestyle prescription program. Blunt, W., Gill, DP., Riggin, B., et al.[2019]

A pilot plant-based lifestyle medicine program in a safety-net healthcare system led to significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes, including a 7.2% increase in nutrition knowledge and a 12.2% increase in participants reporting good or very good sleep quality after 6 months.

Participants also experienced a reduction in barriers to adopting a plant-based diet and increased physical activity, highlighting the effectiveness of lifestyle medicine interventions in promoting healthier behaviors among low-income populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient-Reported Outcomes from a Pilot Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program in a Safety-Net Setting. Massar, RE., McMacken, M., Kwok, L., et al.[2023]

A study involving 171 community residents with metabolic syndrome showed that a 5-month initiation health program significantly improved lifestyle and laboratory test results, with benefits sustained over a 2-year follow-up.

Both the initiation program and a subsequent 6-month enhancing program led to similar improvements, indicating that even the shorter program was effective in promoting healthier lifestyles among participants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An intervention study to promote self-improvement of lifestyle in a Japanese community: a new health support program. Fukumoto, K., Wei, CN., Matsuo, H., et al.[2021]

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