Planning, implementation and evaluation of a remote Better Life -wellness programme for office workers

Abstract

People in the modern world are facing multiple challenges in their lifestyle-choices. In addition to personal costs, poor wellbeing can also increase the expenses on workplaces. In the world of smartphones, people seek help from phone applications (Apps). Several of wellness-apps are marketed to promote health and behavior change. However, only minor part of them are based on evidence and behavior change theory. Also, many of the apps are designed for specific targets (PA, nutrition, smoking etc.), but research on holistic programmes have not been reported. The aim of this study was planning, implementation and evaluation of a holistic, remote Better Life -wellness programme. The aim of the programme is to develop sustainable health habits. This research is a feasibility and acceptability study: How did the participants and the coach experience the programme and if there were perceived health benefits. Also, the habit formation was investigated. The intervention model behind the app and the programme is based on Hintsa´s model of wellbeing - Circle of Better Life. It is a hybrid coaching system including phone app and meetings with the coach. The Better Life application (BLA) provides educational information and ways to follow one´s own progress. Meetings with the coach focus on personalized recommendations based on personal needs. The programme lasts 7 months with 7 meetings with the coach. The programme involves seven aspects of wellbeing: core, physical activity, nutrition, sleep & recovery, biomechanics, mental energy and general health. Eight office-workers took part on the programme. The programme was evaluated by the Acceptability questionnaire. Habit formation was studied with the Self-Report Habit -Index. Participants filled out two questionnaires, which measured their subjective feeling of seven aspect of wellbeing. After the programme, they were interviewed to gain deeper understanding on their perceptions of the programme. Quantitative analysis was done using paired sample t-tests. Qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. Quantitative results revealed good acceptability of the programme. Habits were formed in most areas of the programme after 12 weeks from the beginning of the programme. The Better Life Score indicated that the participants perceived, that their wellbeing increased during the programme. Significant increase was also found in six out of seven topics of the Better Life -survey. The qualitative analysis supported these findings. The programme was perceived to be great driver for change and long and merciful enough to make sustainable changes. The programme increased participants self-awareness and helped to plan their lives to make health supporting decisions. All of the participants would have recommended the programme for their friends. The coach´s role in the programme can be seen important but multiple roles of the coach is something that needs to take into consideration when interpreting the results. The present results suggest that a holistic better life -programme may be a good intervention-mechanism to form healthy habits and sustainable behavior changes, is well accepted and feasible, and ready for full-scale RCT-research for studies on long-term effects.