Yang Xue, Qu Gengcong, Luk Lawrence, Mo Phoenix K H, Yip Benjamin H K, Wong Samuel Y S, Wong Carmen K M
Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
BMC Prim Care. 2025 Aug 4;26(1):242. doi: 10.1186/s12875-025-02957-0.
Cardiovascular diseases, a leading cause of death globally and in Hong Kong, lead to disability, mood changes, and increased healthcare burden. Lifestyle modifications can prevent these diseases. Health coaching, a client-centered approach, aids in behavior change. Despite its promise, cultural nuances in Hong Kong, like traditional diets and collectivist values, may influence health coaching effectiveness. Understanding these factors is crucial for tailored and effective cardiovascular disease prevention in the local Chinese population.
Eighteen participants were recruited from the We WATCH project, a health coaching program for cardiovascular disease prevention in middle-aged adults (35-59 years) at post-program. Purposive sampling was used regarding gender, age and lifestyle domains. Three semi-structured focused-group interviews were conducted. Interviews followed a guide focusing on lifestyle changes and health coaching experiences. Thematic analysis, based on Braun and Clarke's approach, identified emergent themes.
The study revealed challenges faced by middle-aged individuals in Hong Kong in adopting healthy habits due to various barriers. Comfort foods and inactivity hinder behavioral changes. The end of health coaching programs posed a barrier. Participants cited facilitators from health coaching for promoting healthy behaviors. Clients noted health coach characteristics impacting effectiveness. A mix of online and offline channels was preferred for health coaching modality in Hong Kong for a more versatile approach.
Psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors impact health decisions. Tailored health coaching in Hong Kong and similar cultures should consider unique cultural and environmental contexts (e.g., family-based health coaching, exploring indoor exercises).
心血管疾病是全球及香港地区主要的死亡原因，会导致残疾、情绪变化以及医疗负担加重。生活方式的改变可以预防这些疾病。健康指导是以客户为中心的方法，有助于行为改变。尽管健康指导前景广阔，但香港的文化细微差别，如传统饮食和集体主义价值观，可能会影响其有效性。了解这些因素对于为当地中国人群量身定制并有效预防心血管疾病至关重要。
从“我们关注”项目中招募了18名参与者，该项目是一项针对中年成年人（35 - 59岁）预防心血管疾病的健康指导项目，在项目结束后进行研究。采用目的抽样法选取不同性别、年龄和生活方式领域的参与者。进行了三次半结构化焦点小组访谈。访谈遵循一份侧重于生活方式改变和健康指导体验的指南。基于布劳恩和克拉克的方法进行主题分析，确定出现的主题。
研究揭示了香港中年个体在养成健康习惯方面因各种障碍而面临的挑战。舒适的食物和缺乏运动阻碍了行为改变。健康指导项目的结束构成了一个障碍。参与者提到健康指导对促进健康行为有推动作用。客户指出健康教练的特征会影响效果。在香港，健康指导方式更倾向于线上和线下渠道相结合，以实现更具通用性的方法。
心理、行为和文化因素会影响健康决策。在香港及类似文化背景下，量身定制的健康指导应考虑独特的文化和环境背景（例如，基于家庭的健康指导、探索室内运动）。
