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Background COVID-19 public health restrictions (i.e. physical distancing) compromise individuals’ ability to self-manage their health behaviours and may increase the risks of adverse health events. Objectives To evaluate the student-delivered Community Outreach teleheAlth program for Covid education and Health promotion (COACH) on health-directed behaviour (self-management) among older adults (≥65 years of age, n = 75). Secondary objectives estimated the influence of COACH on perceived depression, anxiety, and stress; social support; health-related quality of life; health promotion self-efficacy; and other self-management domains. Methods COACH was developed to provide chronic disease management and prevention support among older adults via telephone or videoconferencing platforms (i.e. Zoom). In this single-group, pre-post study, our primary outcome was measured using the health-directed behaviour subscale of the Health Education Impact Questionnaire. Secondary measures included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, Medical Outcomes Study: Social Support Survey, MOS Short Form-36, and Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale. Paired sample t-tests were used to analyse outcome changes. Results Mean age of participants was 72.4 years (58.7% female; 80% ≥2 chronic conditions). Health-directed behaviour significantly improved after COACH (P < 0.001, d = 0.45). Improved health promotion self-efficacy (P < 0.001, d = 0.44) and decreased mental health were also observed (P < 0.001, d = −1.69). Discussion COACH likely contributed to improved health-directed behaviour and health promotion self-efficacy despite the diminished mental health-related quality of life during COVID-19. Our findings also highlight the benefits of using health professional students for the delivery of virtual health promotion programs. Clinical Trial Information ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04492527

Background: Chronic diseases are prevalent in Canada’s aging population (≥65 years). Positive health behaviours (e.g., physical activity, healthy diet) are critical for the management of chronic diseases (e.g., stroke, heart disease). However, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention strategies of quarantining, social isolation, and physical distancing may compromise one's ability to manage health and engage in daily activities, possibly increasing risk of adverse health events. The Community Outreach teleheAlth program for Covid education and Health promotion (COACH) program has demonstrated an increase in health promoting behaviours, but little is known about participants’ experiences in participating in the program. The program entailed six telehealth sessions over two months that focused on health coaching, behaviour change, and COVID education. The objectives of this study were to describe: (1) chronic disease prevention and management strategies of older adults (≥65 years of age) during COVID-19; and (2) participants’ experience in COACH sessions delivered by medical students at the University of British Columbia. Methods: Twenty-four COACH participants participated in semi-structured interviews that were conducted through Zoom videoconferencing. Interview questions focused on how participants managed their own health before and during COVID-19. Qualitative description was the guiding methodological framework. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Findings: Participants’ mean age was 73.4 years (58% female) with 75% reporting two or more chronic conditions (e.g., stroke, heart disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, heart attack). Three themes described participants’ prevention and management strategies, including: i) having a purpose for optimizing health; ii) using internal self-control strategies; and iii) leveraging external support strategies. COACH further supported participants during COVID-19, as represented through coach interactions as well as knowledge and skill development. Conclusion: Findings suggest that older adults engage in internal self-control strategies and external support means to manage current chronic conditions and promote health and well-being. Health professional program students have a potential role in health promotion and in assuming the role of coach in telehealth promotion programs for older adults.

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While public health measures of quarantining, socially isolating, and physical distancing are important to minimize the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), these actions may also compromise the ability to manage one’s own health, thereby increasing the risk of adverse health events. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a student-delivered Community Outreach teleheAlth program for Covid education and Health promotion (COACH) to community-living adults (age ≥65 years). We hypothesized that COACH would improve health promoting behaviour as measured by the Health Directed Behaviour subscale of the Health Education Impact Questionnaire. We also anticipated COACH would improve secondary outcomes of perceived stress, depressive and anxiety (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21), social support (Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey), health-related quality of life (Short Form-36), and health promotion self-efficacy (Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale). In this single-group pre-post study, we recruited 75 community-living adults with access to telephone/video-conferencing technology to participate in six 30-45 minute sessions with trained medical students over a two-month period. The mean age of participants was 72.4 years (58.7% female), with 80% reporting two or more chronic conditions. No participants were diagnosed with COVID-19 during participation. Paired sample t-tests showed significant improvement in health directed behaviour (p < .001, d = 0.45) and self-efficacy (p <.001, d = 0.44), but significant decrease in mental health-related quality of life (p < .001, d = -1.69). Overall, COACH may help improve health directed behaviour and health promotion self-efficacy, despite decreases in mental health possibly associated with COVID-19 restrictions.