Randomised Trial of Health Coaching in Secondary Prevention of Diabetes and Heart Disease

Randomised Trial of Health Coaching in Secondary Prevention of Diabetes and Heart Disease

A randomised trial with individual patients as units of observation will be carried out. Health coaching is used to modify health behaviour and thus improve disease control and health status, as well as use of health care services. A personal health coach is assigned to each patient and they are in weekly contact through telephone. The intervention lasts for 12 months. No intervention is offered to the patients in the control arm.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (medication and HbA1c>7% and no cardiovascular disease), coronary artery disease (history of myocardial infarction or revascularisation) or heart failure (NYHA II-III and admitted in a hospital for the condition within 2 years)
• Aged 45 years or older
• Resident in the Päijät-Häme health care district

Exclusion Criteria:

• Classified as ineligible by primary care physician
• Unable to co-operate or participate in health coaching
• Major elective surgery planned within 6 months
• History of major surgery within past 2 years
• Life expectancy <1 year
• Pregnancy