None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This project will test whether the Healthy4U telephone-based physical activity coaching program can be successfully integrated into routine Allied Health care across three rural Victorian health services. Adults who are insufficiently physically active will be referred by their treating Allied Health clinician and receive five coaching sessions over 12 weeks. The study will examine key implementation outcomes—such as reach, adoption, fidelity, and sustainability—using the RE-AIM framework. Changes in participants’ physical activity, self-efficacy, and wellbeing will also be measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Findings will inform scalable, sustainable approaches to delivering evidence-based physical activity support in rural and regional communities.
Interventions
Description of intervention(s) / exposure
Participants will receive the Healthy4U telephone-based physical activity coaching program, delivered as part of a hybrid Type 3 implementation–effectiveness trial. The intervention incorporates motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) strategies to support participants to increase their physical activity.
Materials:
Allied Health clinicians distribute sequentially numbered recruitment fliers during routine care. Interested
Description of intervention(s) / exposure Participants will receive the Healthy4U telephone-based physical activity coaching program, delivered as part of a hybrid Type 3 implementation–effectiveness trial. The intervention incorporates motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) strategies to support participants to increase their physical activity. Materials: Allied Health clinicians distribute sequentially numbered recruitment fliers during routine care. Interested participants complete a PAR-Q+ safety screening prior to enrolment. Participants are provided with a Participant Information and Consent Form (PICF) by email or post. Procedures/activities: The coaching program supports participants to identify personally meaningful goals for increasing physical activity, build confidence, problem-solve barriers, and develop strategies for maintaining changes. • Sessions 1–3 focus primarily on motivational interviewing to support initiation of behaviour change. • Sessions 4–5 integrate MI and CBT techniques to support action planning, problem solving, and maintenance. All participants receive outcome assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Who delivers it: All coaching is delivered by trained health coaches from the Healthy4U program team (AHPRA-registered healthcare practitioners) with specific training in MI and MI-CBT. Coaches receive supervision from experienced clinicians involved in previous Healthy4U trials. Mode of delivery: All coaching is delivered individually via telephone, conducted remotely by the Bendigo Health research team. Frequency and duration: Participants receive five telephone coaching sessions, each approximately 15–20 minutes: • Four sessions over the first 6 weeks • One booster session at week 11 post-baseline Attendance and completion rates are tracked to assess adherence. Setting: The program is implemented across three rural/regional Victorian health services (Echuca Regional Health, Swan Hill District Health, and Dhelkaya Health) through routine Allied Health referral pathways. Coaching sessions themselves are delivered remotely from Bendigo Health. Dose/intensity: Total intervention dose is approximately 75–100 minutes of structured coaching over a 12-week period.
Sponsors
Bendigo Health
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Aged 18 years or older Living in a rural or regional Victorian postcode Insufficiently physically active, defined as less than 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week (self-reported using a single screening question) Access to a telephone to participate in the coaching sessions Identified by an Allied Health clinician as someone who may benefit from increasing physical activity
Exclusion criteria
Deaf or hearing impaired Neurological disorder causing disability Serious mental illness (e.g., psychosis) Learning disability or dementia Registered blind Unable to move independently Advanced cancer Unable to safely participate based on PAR-Q+ screening (or medical clearance not obtained when required)
Outcome results
None listed