Proactive Student Psychosocial Support Intervention Through Life Coaching: A Case Study of a First-Year Chemical Engineering Extended Curriculum Programme

Higher Education Institutions in South Africa continue to experience considerable dropout rates of students during the first year, especially those from previously marginalised population groups. The aim of this research was to evaluate how the use of life coaching interventions providing first year students with psychosocial support, influenced their first-year experience. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected through a questionnaire at the end of the academic year, approximately four months after the intervention, to evaluate students’ experiences of the intervention. Results indicate that students felt that the intervention helped them avoid dropping out of university prematurely, respond better to failure during the year, and improve their self-awareness and academic performance. In conclusion, the results suggest that the use of life coaching intervention as a proactive means of harnessing student agency, may be beneficial to their academic performance, and in improving their lives in general. The study recommends that further research be conducted to explore the use of small group life coaching for providing students with psychosocial support, and also explore this intervention’s cost-effectiveness in different contexts.

Examining the effecting of a life-coaching intervention on breast cancer survivors’ post treatment adjustment: protocol of a parallel group randomized controlled trial

<p class="Default"><strong>Background:</strong> The growing number of breast cancer survivors in the country has warranted health interventions targeted to mitigate the bio-psychosocial impact associated with a cancer diagnosis and the toxicities of oncological treatments. Life coaching is a widely adopted intervention strategy to promote an individual’s positive psychological adaptation, self-management, and self-confidence. This present study will investigate whether a life coaching intervention with group and individual coaching components can significantly improve quality of life (QoL) and post traumatic growth among breast cancer survivors.</p><p class="Default"><strong>Methods: </strong>This study is a randomized controlled trial with three parallel study arms. A prospective sample size of 120 adult breast cancer survivors will be randomized into one of the three study groups either to receive: 1) group coaching following by individual coaching sessions; 2) group coaching sessions only; or 3) routine care. The primary outcome evaluates post traumatic growth and secondary outcomes assess QoL and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). Data collection will occur at baseline (T0) and at 3 weeks (T1), and at 18 weeks (T2). A follow-up assessment will occur at 30 weeks (T3).</p><p class="Default"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This is the first randomized control trial to address post traumatic growth among breast cancer survivors using a life coaching intervention. If positive, the results of this study could inform intervention development that benefits the health of cancer survivors.</p><p class="Default"><strong>Trial registration: </strong>This trial is ethically approved and registered with clinical trial registry (NCT05020561).</p>

Evaluation of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander strengths based coaching program: a study protocol

Background Increasingly, strength-based approaches to health and wellbeing interventions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are being explored. This is a welcome counter to deficit-based initiatives which can represent a non-Indigenous view of outcomes of interest. However, the evidence base is not well developed. This paper presents the protocol for evaluating a strengths-based initiative which provides life coaching services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community housing tenants. The study aims to evaluate the effect of life coaching on social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) of tenants in three Victorian regions. Methods The More Than a Landlord (MTAL) study is a prospective cohort study of Aboriginal Housing Victoria tenants aged 16 years and over that embeds the evaluation of a life coaching program. All tenant holders in one metropolitan and two regional areas of Victoria are invited to participate in a survey of SEWB, containing items consistent with key categories of SEWB as understood and defined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and key demographics, administered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peer researchers at baseline, 6 and 18 months. Survey participants are then invited to participate in strengths based life coaching, using the GROW model, for a duration of up to 18 months. Indigenous life coaches provide tenants with structured support in identifying and making progress towards their goals and aspirations, rather than needs. The study aims to recruit a minimum of 200 survey participants of which it is anticipated that approximately 73% will agree to life coaching. Discussion The MTAL study is a response to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and organisational requests to build the evidence base for an initiative originally developed and piloted within an Aboriginal controlled organisation. The study design aligns with key principles for research in Indigenous communities in promoting control, decision making and capacity building. The MTAL study will provide essential evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of strengths-based initiatives in promoting SEWB in these communities and provide new evidence about the relationship between strengths, resilience, self-determination and wellbeing outcomes. Trial registration This trial was retrospectively registered with the ISRCTN Register on the 12/7/21 with the study ID:ISRCTN33665735.

Feasibility of digital life coaching during stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

e24103 Background: Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) experience acute quality of life (QOL) exacerbations following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) that can lead to long-term complications. Life coaching can improve QOL in a structured & personalized manner. We investigated the feasibility of a digital life coaching (DLC) platform, where coaching is accomplished through phone calls and text messages, for patients with MM during ASCT. Methods: Our pilot study (clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT04432818) enrolled adult patients with MM, English proficiency, and cellphone ownership (smartphone not required). The 16-week DLC program, beginning at Day -5 before ASCT, included unlimited digital access to a certified life coach to help with identifying and accomplishing wellness-related goals. Our primary outcome was ongoing DLC engagement (≥ 1 bidirectional conversation every 4 weeks). Secondary outcomes were ePRO assessments of QOL (PROMIS Global Health), insomnia (PROMIS Sleep Disturbances), and distress (NCCN DT). Electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) assessments were delivered via automated REDCap emails every 1-2 weeks. Results: Of 18 screened patients, 15 (83%) enrolled in our study; 2 patients dropped out before initiating DLC (including 1 who was unable to connect with her coach between Day -5 and 0). Of 13 remaining patients, median age was 65 (range 50-81) and 23% had an ECOG performance status of 1 (remainder 0). DLC conversations occurred a mean of every 7.6 days (range 3-28) overall and every 6.5 days (range 2.8-14) during the initial 28-day period including high-dose melphalan and hospitalization. 80% of patients maintained ≥ 1 conversation every 4 weeks. Selected ePRO results (mean ± standard error) are shown in the table. Conclusions: Certain MM patients are able to engage digitally with a life coach and complete email-based ePRO assessments during and after ASCT. Limitations of our study include selection bias and the Day -5 start date, which may be too late logistically and symptom-wise (given our ePRO findings suggestive of peak distress pre-ASCT). DLC may play an innovative and scalable role given the emphasis on remotely delivered care during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Phase II randomized study of DLC versus usual care is under way (clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT04589286). Clinical trial information: NCT04432818. [Table: see text]

Evangelical coaching: New Age elements in Brazilian Charismatic Christianity

rom the 1990s on, the New Age ceased to be visible only among the exclusivist groups of salvific character, typical of the 1970s. Its values began to be disseminated among the broader culture through what was called the New Age ethos. This article seeks to show how these values are seen even among Brazilian Pentecostal Denominations. To this end, we adopt life coaching as an object. We briefly return to the history of life coaching and its relation to the New Age. We then explain how the spread of the New Age ethos into the broader society led to the incorporation of some of the New Age values and practices into even institutionalized forms of religion. Finally, we discuss how life coaching became incorporated into the plethora of religious goods also offered by Brazilian Charismatic Christians, and how Evangelical coaching maintains much of the religious logic of the New Age itself.