The purpose of this study is to ensure effective health management among community-living older adults during unprecedented times, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has made the world transition to practices of
quarantine, social distancing and social isolation. While they serve as prevention strategies
for COVID-19, they may also cause an increase of other health problems. As well, closures of
public areas and financial challenges act as barriers to exercise and dietary quality. Thus
quarantine-type strategies, while needed, compromise the ability to self-manage one's health
and increase their risk of adverse health events.
Evidence suggests the negative effects of such quarantine-type strategies are especially
being felt among Canada's seniors. A recent report by Statistics Canada indicates that 60% of
Canadians, ≥65 years of age are 'very' concerned about their health due to social and
economic consequences of COVID-19. Moreover, 80% of individuals reported being 'very' anxious
about overloading the health system. This may in turn lead to rash decisions not to access
health services as needed. Clearly, efforts are required to support older individuals to
optimally manage their health to prevent disease and disability.
In British Columbia (BC), various specialized health resources have emerged to support people
during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many are passive in that they require individuals to
initiate contact in response to a concern, and none have a specific focus on health promotion
or disease prevention and management.
This study will ensure that community-living adults ages 65 years and older are effectively
managing their health during these unprecedented times. Participants will receive a kit
containing a self-help manual, a Health Report Card, and COVID-19 education. They will also
received 6 telephone/video conference sessions with a student-coach who will utilize
motivational interviewing techniques to foster lifestyle modification, and self-management.
Objectives:
1. To quantitatively evaluate the effect of the two-month, six session (30-45
minutes/session) COACH program on health self-management, measured using the Health
Directed Behaviour subscale in the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ),9 among
community-living adults ≥65 years of age.
2. To qualitatively describe the subjective experiences of participants receiving the COACH
program.
Hypotheses:
1. COACH will improve health directed behaviour in community-living adults, ≥65 years of
age.
2. COACH will also improve secondary outcomes in the areas of mood, social support,
health-related quality of life, health promotion self-efficacy, and other self-
management domains in the heiQ.
Behavioral: Telehealth coaching sessions
Participants will be receiving a 2-month coaching session intervention that will be delivered via telephone or video-conferencing. Each of the 6 sessions will be 30-45minutes long and one-on-one with a student coach. In each session, coaches will review the participants' health behaviours and assess their knowledge about behavioural risks factors for chronic diseases and their current behaviours. The coaches will then provide information about the health risks of poor health behaviours, and benefits of change. Health behavioural goals will be established through a collaborative process. The coaches will then assist participants to develop readily achievable action plans that participants will follow in between coaching sessions as a means to realize their health goals. Adherence and modifications to the action plans will be discussed at the follow-up coaching session to promote health accountability.
Inclusion Criteria:
- age 65 years or older
- living within a community in British Columbia
- have access to a telephone or video conferencing program
- able to communicate in English
- have had no previous COVID-19 diagnosis by health professionals
- have cognitive-communicative ability to participate as per clinical judgement
- can provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- not medically stable
- are participating in other health promotion programs
- have severe hearing loss
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Brodie Sakakibara, PhD, Principal Investigator
University of British Columbia