Stepping Up UMD Group Health Coaching: A Behavioral Intervention

Abstract

Dangerous health risks due to sedentary lifestyles prove to be a serious issue, especially to those holding traditional desk jobs in the workplace. Upon request of the UMD Health and Wellness Center's Lifestyle Management Health Coach, a behavioral systems analysis of the UMD Group Health Coaching Program was conducted and revealed several opportunities to evaluate and improve its current format. This study sought to evaluate the UMD Group Health Coaching Program during the implementation of a 10- week program offered to a group of 12 UMD employees who indicated interest in increasing stepping behavior. Program evaluation included assessment of: (a) the effectiveness of the UMD Group Health Coaching program to promote increased stepping behavior of participants while using the Fitbit measurement system, (b) the influence of participant access to the Fitbit website and mobile phone app on participants' levels of physical activity, (c) the effects of social competition mediated through the Fitbit system on individuals' participation in the challenges and levels of physical activity while engaged in these challenges, and (d) the UMD Lifestyle Coach's perception of the usefulness of recommendations derived from the BSA approach. Visual analysis of timeseries data revealed an overall decrease in stepping behavior and levels of intensity of physical activity across the 10-week program. Findings are discussed with regard to implications for designing effective intervention components that include setting unique step goals for each individual and incorporating contingent positively reinforcing consequences to increase participants' stepping behavior in relation to their goal.