Peer Health Coaching for Women's Health Improvement

Recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Camille K Williams, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Women's College Hospital

Disqualifiers: Language, Literacy, Competence, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

268 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The Building on Existing Tools To improvE cancer and chronic disease pRevention and screening in primary care (BETTER) Program allows patients in primary care to have a dedicated visit with a prevention practitioner to discuss chronic disease prevention and cancer screening. A prevention practitioner is a health professional, working in primary care, who has received additional training to discuss chronic disease prevention and screening and develop health goals with patients through shared decision-making. Previous studies have shown that this approach increases the number of prevention and screening actions completed by program participants. However, maintenance of health behaviour changes is difficult without on-going support. There is also some evidence that peer-delivered coaching can improve health outcomes in community settings. As such, the BETTER Women program extends the BETTER program by focusing on 40 to 68-year-old women and providing time-limited support for health behaviour change through peer health coaches. Coaches are volunteers - trained in techniques to support health behaviour change - who support women to achieve their health goals over a 6-month period. In this study, the investigators will explore: (i) whether patients who participate in health coaching after a prevention visit are more likely to increase the number of prevention and screening actions that they complete after six months, compared to women who participate in a prevention visit but do not get health coaching; (ii) whether the intervention effects endure six months after the intervention ends; and (iii) the implementation of the program to learn about factors that affect various aspects of the success and sustainability of the program.

Research Team

Noah M Ivers, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Women's College Hospital

Aisha Lofters, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Women's College Hospital

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for women aged 40-68 in Ontario with an email and health insurance, who have at least one unhealthy behavior or are overdue for cancer screenings. They must be able to consent and communicate in English.

Inclusion Criteria

Patient has a valid number for the provincial health insurance program (Ontario Health Insurance Program [OHIP]); and

I identify as a woman.

I have an email address.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient is unable to give informed consent in English due to language, literacy, or competence;

Patient's primary care provider has identified medical comorbidities or other conditions at baseline that might interfere with the patient's ability to follow through on the intervention.

I can communicate in English via email and phone with the study team.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Prevention Visit

Participants have a single visit with a prevention practitioner to discuss chronic disease prevention and cancer screening

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Health Coaching

Participants receive ongoing support from a trained, volunteer peer health coach to achieve personalized health goals over a 6-month period

6 months

Regular virtual check-ins

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for the effectiveness of health coaching and maintenance of health behavior changes

6 months

Surveys at 3, 6, and 12 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Peer health coaching

Trial Overview The study tests if a prevention visit followed by six months of peer health coaching helps women achieve more health goals compared to just the visit alone. It also examines long-term effects and program implementation.

Participant Groups

Group I: Wait-list Control Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients will have a prevention visit with a Prevention Practitioner (a healthcare provider who has received additional training) and complete a baseline survey, after which they will receive usual care from their healthcare providers. Patients will be administered another survey at 3 months and a final survey at 6 months. After study completion (about 6-months after the initial prevention visit), patients will be invited to receive ongoing support from a trained, volunteer peer health coach, for up to six months. The coach will support the patient as she works towards achieving personalized health goals to reduce her risk of chronic diseases, including cancer.

Group II: Intervention Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Patients will have a prevention visit with a Prevention Practitioner (a healthcare provider who has received additional training), complete the baseline survey then be invited to receive ongoing support from a trained, volunteer peer health coach, for up to six months. The coach will support the patient as she works towards achieving personalized health goals to reduce her risk of chronic diseases, including cancer. Patients will be administered additional surveys at 3 and 6 months and a final survey at 12 months.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Women's College Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

108

Recruited

43,700+

Canadian Cancer Society (CCS)

Collaborator

Trials

84

Recruited

42,100+

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

Collaborator

Trials

51

Recruited

101,000+

Women's College Hospital Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

270+

Women's College Hospital Family Practice Health Centre

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

270+

Barrie and Community Family Health Team

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

450+

University Health Network, Toronto

Collaborator

Trials

1,555

Recruited

526,000+

Applied Health Research Centre

Collaborator

Trials

23

Recruited

70,900+

Summerville Family Health Team

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

270+