Sibold Jeremy, Whitman Susan, Westervelt Karen
Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
Osher Center for Integrative Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
Am J Lifestyle Med. 2023 Jul 12;18(2):181-185. doi: 10.1177/15598276231189206. eCollection 2024 Mar-Apr.
Health and wellness coaching (HWC) is an effective intervention for many chronic lifestyle diseases. Chronic diseases represent a majority of our severe national healthcare burden. Yet, HWC certification programs vary in delivery method and degree awarded. The purpose of this paper is to provide an evidence based rationale for HWC as a complementary area of study to non-licensure granting, undergraduate health degrees in higher education. A comprehensive review of the literature related to the efficacy of HWC was completed. In addition, the national program directory was mined for descriptive data for approved HWC programs. Given the growing body of support for HWC as an effective intervention, we recommend that institutions deliver HWC curricula as an academic minor for undergraduate students in non-licensure granting health-related degrees to position graduates for entry level careers in HWC. Evidence from the successful deployment of an undergraduate program in HWC supports our contention that HWC be delivered as an academic minor in support of lifestyle health and wellness education. In doing so, the field can offer HWC in a way that is widely accessible to the undergraduate population, while providing a mechanism for direct employment as a professional health and wellness coach.
健康与 wellness 指导（HWC）是针对许多慢性生活方式疾病的一种有效干预措施。慢性病构成了我国严重医疗负担的大部分。然而，HWC 认证项目在授课方式和授予学位方面各不相同。本文的目的是为 HWC 作为高等教育中无执照授予的本科健康学位的一个补充研究领域提供基于证据的理论依据。完成了对与 HWC 疗效相关文献的全面综述。此外，从国家项目目录中挖掘了已批准的 HWC 项目的描述性数据。鉴于对 HWC 作为一种有效干预措施的支持越来越多，我们建议各机构将 HWC 课程作为非执照授予的健康相关学位本科学生的辅修课程，以使毕业生能够从事 HWC 的入门级职业。一个本科 HWC 项目成功实施的证据支持了我们的观点，即 HWC 应作为辅修课程来提供，以支持生活方式健康与 wellness 教育。这样做，该领域可以以一种本科学生广泛可及的方式提供 HWC，同时提供一种作为专业健康与 wellness 教练直接就业的机制。
