Comparison of Active Treatments for Impaired Glucose Regulation (CATFISH) service trial
What did we do?
We investigated whether a web-enabled telephone health coaching intervention was an acceptable, efficient and effective means of encouraging lifestyle change among people with IGR, also known as prediabetes.
Why was it important?
Developing type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity and inactivity, particularly in people who are diagnosed with IGR. IGR is a form of prediabetes and if no action is taken around half of patients with IGR will go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years, putting them at increased risk of further health problems. Relatively modest changes to lifestyle factors, such as diet and activity, can delay the onset of diabetes, but achieving effective lifestyle change is difficult. Health coaching might be a flexible and effective way to do this.
Health coaching involves a regular series of phone calls between a patient and a health professional to provide support and encouragement to the patient, and promote healthy behaviours such as a healthy diet and physical activity. Salford's multidisciplinary diabetes team delivers health coaching (known as care call) for people with type 2 diabetes, using health advisors. The service has been adapted to meet the needs of patients with IGR and previous uncontrolled pilots have shown promising results. The IGR care call intervention has been enhanced with greater use of web-based materials, such as a ‘dashboard’ to help patients track their progress. The new web-enabled health coaching service has the potential to save time, improve uptake and adherence among patients, and significantly reduce costs over the long-term.
This study was the first robust evaluation of the acceptability of web-enabled health coaching compared with telephone-only health coaching for people with IGR. It will provide information about how patients rated their experience of health coaching along with information about how costly it is to deliver either the web or telephone-only service. Findings from this study will potentially be of use to partners in the NHS with interests in commissioning services to support people to stay healthy and reduce the risk of diabetes.
How did we do it?
We conducted a randomised controlled trial to compare satisfaction among participants with IGR randomised to either the web-enabled or the existing telephone-only health coaching service. We recruited 200 patients who were referred to care call and collected data about their health before and after they receive health coaching. We also asked them about their experience of health coaching after 9 months and investigated how much it costs to deliver health coaching for people with IGR.
Who did we work with?
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
Downloadable resources
More information
For more information please contact Michael Spence (Programme Manager).