Health & Independent Living Coaching Program
Research Program Description 2025-26
Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Nursing are conducting a research study to evaluate the benefit of a new 5-month health coaching program, Health & Independent Living Coaching Program, among adults 30 years of age and older with chronic medical conditions. Study Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the benefits of this program on participants’ health status and use of medical services, in addition to how well any health benefits are maintained for three months after the initial coaching program. While nurses have provided the program from its beginning, this study will also evaluate using community members that are trained as Health Coaches to deliver the program. This program is NOT a medical or clinical treatment program. While we will obtain some health information, this information will be used to better understand your overall health, not to diagnose or recommend medical treatment.
Your participation is voluntary.
General Study Instructions:
If you choose to participate in this study, we will ask for your consent. If you provide informed consent to participate and you complete some brief surveys, you will be enrolled as a participant in the study. After enrollment, either a Nurse Health Coach or a Health Coach (trained community member) will be
assigned to you.
When you are enrolled in the Health & Independent Living Coaching Program program, you will be asked to:
● Use our secure website to complete forms and sessions in the study with your coach. Nurse Health Coaches and Health Coaches are employed by the University of Michigan, School of Nursing
● Complete a 90 minute virtual home assessment with your coach, using video
● Set health goals and develop action plans to meet those goals with your coach during a one-hour planning video session
● Have six weekly 30-minute video coaching sessions with your coach by two-way video chats on a tablet or computer
● Continue with your current care by your primary care provider; but if your primary care provider changes your treatment plan, you will be asked to notify the HILCP program coordinator
● Fill out short questionnaires and surveys (less than 30 minutes each) at home before the start of the program, at the end of the 8-week program, and again after 3 months after that (for a total of 5 months).
After the first 8 weeks of the program, the next 3 months are called the ‘follow-up’ period, designed to help you maintain your goals.
This follow-up period of the program includes:
● Three additional 30- minute video sessions scheduled with your coach (one per month)
● The ability to continue to use the daily activity tracking that you used in the first part of the program
● Filling out 15-20 minute surveys at 8 weeks and 5 months after the start of the program
● As in the first part of the program, you are asked to let the study coordinator or your coach know if you have any changes in your medical plan of care, such as new medications, more frequent doctor visits, or if any urgent or worrisome health issues arise, etc.
● Participants will be asked to complete two survey forms at baseline, after the 8-week coaching period, and then again three months later (after the fifth month of the program).
Participants will receive a $75.00 VISA or Mastercard gift card at the end of the study if all surveys for all three time periods have been completed.
Please remember that your participation in this study is voluntary, so if at any point in the study you wish to stop participation, you may do so.
If you are interested, please contact:
Study Coordinator: Alexis Ellis
Email: alexisel@med.umich.edu
Call:734-615-0085
