Diabetes and insulin resistance are on the rise in the United States. Early detection and deployment of therapies has allowed for the reversal of pancreatic beta cell damage. Unfortunately, not all providers can offer the support to facilitating the required life style modifications. The introduction of clinical health consultants (CHC) as supplemental care has improved patient health for a variety of chronic diseases. Missing in the literature are studies investigating the correlation between the number of CHC interactions and improvement in biomarkers. The study utilized a non-experimental, retrospective study design to evaluate the relationship between the use between the use of CHCs and the number of CHC interactions, and the mean changes in glucose, hemoglobin A1c, insulin, proinsulin, C-peptide, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol, over a one-year period for patients presented with the opportunity to participate in CHC interactions. The subjects’ follow-up results were compared to their initial results for each group using the ANCOVA and one-way t-test. A statistically significant difference was detected between the mean change in BMI and the use of CHCs (p

The failure to translate evidence into clinical practice has been repeatedly highlighted. This failure is partly attributed to disregarding the context within which healthcare is delivered. The aim of this thesis was to develop and psychometrically evaluate the Context Assessment for Community Health (COACH) tool, and, through that process, provide opportunities to measure aspects of context perceived to be important for Knowledge Translation (KT) interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). All four studies in this thesis were mainly undertaken in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam during 2008–2014. Study II, however, was also conducted in four other LMICs (Bangladesh, Nicaragua, South Africa, and Uganda). Study I employed inductive content analysis of 16 focus group discussions to explore the influence of context in a community-based facilitation intervention in Vietnam. Studies II and III reported on the development of the COACH tool and assessment of its psychometric properties. Study IV used the COACH tool in a survey among health workers in Vietnam. To date, three sources of evidence regarding validity of the COACH tool have been provided, that is, test content, response processes, and internal instrument structure, with promising psychometric characteristics. The COACH tool could be used as means of characterizing aspects of context ahead of KT interventions, for tailoring KT strategies, and for further understanding of the results of KT interventions. / Context Assessment for Community Health

Robertsson, T. & Söderström, M. (2011). En analys av hälsoinspiratörsverksamheten inom Umeå kommun - I vilken utsträckning tillämpas policydokumenten i praktiken? (An analyze of the health coach organization in Umeå municipality – to what extent are the policy documents used in practice?) Bachelor Essay in Swedish. Umeå: Umeå University, Department of Education. Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyze in what extent Umeå municipality health coaches uses their policy "work environment, health and rehabilitation" in social services workplaces. Furthermore was the purpose to analyze the policy "work environment, health and rehabilitation" with help from Bacchi’s policy analyzing model. The study was based on a qualitative design and involved seven health coaches from the social service. Interviews were conducted and analyzed with sentence concentration. The result showed that it differs from person to person on which view on health they have and what they believe represent health promoting work. Most of the interviewees notions and understandings of health and health promoting work are however the same as the municipality’s. The health coaches follow the municipality’s directions on how the assignment should be executed, though they vary in the degree of engagement. Furthermore, all of the interviewees experience that they have the support from the municipality that they need. A few of them though lack the support from their leader. Finally, the result from the policy-analyze showed that Umeå municipality’s problem was that their quality of work was inadequate. It also showed that the municipality put a lot of responsibility on the leaders, but that they should take more accountability themselves.

Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur lärandet av yrkesrollen som hälsocoach bidrar till att forma den personliga identiteten. Syftet var även att undersöka hur denna lärprocess skulle kunna påverka hälsocoachernas individuella hälsa, genom beskrivningar av deras personliga förhållningssätt till hälsa. Metod: Föreliggande studie har haft en kvalitativ metodansats där datainsamlingen har skett genom sex semistrukturerade intervjuer med yrkesverksamma hälsocoacher. Studien hade en hermeneutisk epistemologisk ansats, och utgick vidare från ett abduktivt arbetssätt. Det empiriska materialet sammanställdes till olika teman och analyserades sedan utifrån det teoretiska ramverket. Resultat: Resultatet visade att deltagarna identifierar sig med yrkesrollen som hälsocoach, och att det kan vara svårt att bortse från rollen som hälsocoach även i privata sammanhang. Genom sociala interaktioner med kunder och kollegor har hälsocoacherna lärt sig vad yrket kräver och har utvecklats i sin yrkesroll genom att anamma särskilda egenskaper och färdigheter som anses viktiga för yrkesrollen. Genom att utvecklas i yrkesrollen som hälsocoach har intervjupersonerna fått ökad kunskap inom hälsoområdet och vidare fått en mer balanserad syn på hälsa. Hälsocoacherna anser att det finns yttre förväntningar på hur de bör vara och agera, men upplever inga negativa konsekvenser av detta. Slutsats: Lärprocessen som sker inom yrkesrollen har format hälsocoacherna på så sätt att särskilda egenskaper utvecklats och yrkesrollen har blivit en stor del av den personliga identiteten. Den ökade kunskapen och utvecklingen i yrkesrollen har bidragit till att hälsocoacherna har förändrat sitt sätt att tolka, tillämpa och förstå hälsoinformation. Detta har i sin tur resulterat i ett mer balanserat förhållningssätt till hälsa, vilket i sin tur kan ha positiva hälsoeffekter. / Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine how the learning of the professional role as health coach contributes to shape the personal identity. The aim was also to investigate how this learning process could affect the health coaches' individual well-being, through their descriptions of personal approach to health. Method: The present study had a qualitative methodological approach, where data collection occurred through six semi-structured interviews with professional health coaches. The empirical data were compiled into themes and then analyzed through the theoretical framework. Results: The results shows that learning, in terms of interactions with customers and colleagues, and the adoption of particular characteristics and skills, may influence the personal identity of health coaches. Through learning, the individuals identified themselves, even in private settings, with the professional role. Due to learning, the health coaches have a more balanced approach to diet, exercise, and individual health. Conclusion: The learning process that takes place within the professional role has shaped the health coaches in such ways that special characteristics has developed and the professional role has become a big part of their personal identity. Furthermore, the results also shows that learning may influence the way of interpreting, applying, and understanding health information. Even their personal approach to health has changed for more balanced, which in turn may have positive health effects.