'Telecoaching' reaps results

TELEPHONE COACHING could be a key tool in getting people with type 2 diabetes to change their behaviour, the results of a new study show.

Helen McGloin, a lecturer in nursing studies at St Angela’s College in Sligo, said patients who know the importance of changing their diet, giving up smoking and getting exercise often react badly if they feel they are being “nagged” by concerned family members.

But in a study of 10 patients she found that all of them responded positively after getting regular coaching or mentoring over the phone where the main focus was on motivation rather than criticism or education.

While the Institute of Public Health has estimated that 141,000 people in Ireland have type 2 diabetes, a condition which can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke, depression, amputation, loss of eye sight and kidney problems, Ms McGloin said the true figure could be as high as 250,000.

“Patients know the dangers, in some cases they have been hearing about them for 20 years, but it still does not make them change their behaviour whether it’s taking their medication or changing their diet,” she explained.

Ms McGloin, who qualified as a wellness coach and is doing a PhD at the University of Ulster on telephone coaching, presented her findings at Sligo General Hospital’s annual research conference.

Her study of 10 people aged 40-70 involved weekly coaching sessions for four weeks followed by fortnightly calls for eight weeks.

Initial calls to participants in which they were urged to identify goals revealed low self-image among many.

One lady said she was like a cartoon figure, not able to walk without pouring sweat, another expressed a desire to live long enough to see their children growing into adults.

Ms McGloin said that in follow-up calls even if participants had not achieved targets, the key was to provide empathy by, for example, telling them “this must be really hard for you” rather than criticising.

“Nagging increases resistance,” she pointed out. Simply knowing that someone would ring again next week and would not be judgmental gave participants the encouragement to try again.

“Everyone who took part made behavioural changes,” she said. “Telephone coaching may not work for everybody but we saw significant improvements whether with glucose control, weight loss or reduced waist circumference.”

A randomised controlled trial is now needed to assess how the technique could be used to help not just those with type 2 diabetes, but also people with other chronic illnesses or those who are terminally ill, she said.