What Makes a Quality Lifestyle Coach? A Theoretical Model Based on the Real-World Context of Delivering the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Background/objectives: Lifestyle coaches are integral to delivery of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP); however, few studies have explored the role of the lifestyle coach in relation to participant success. This study aimed to develop a conceptual model of the factors that contribute to lifestyle coach performance and success.

Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study including 82 semi-structured interviews with National DPP staff and participants between June 2020 and February 2022.

Results: Based on the analysis of the interviews, the developed model illustrates how central to coach success are the intrinsic qualities they bring to the role, the quality of their training and preparation for the lifestyle coach role, and the mechanization of their qualities and training through their program delivery. Around this focal relationship revolve four other factors that together or independently affect lifestyle coach success: organization influences; external influences; program participants; and evaluation and feedback.

Conclusions: Health coaching can be an incredibly powerful tool in behavior change. This model provides insight into how coaching can impact participant outcomes and can be used by other health promotion programs who use the coach model.