ASPO Abstracts

Coaching Fidelity in a Lifestyle Intervention for Ovarian Cancer Survivors

Authors: Werts SJ, Skiba MB, Wright SJ, Crane TE, Thomson CA

Category: Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2021

Abstract Body:
Purpose of the Study: Telehealth coaching is a cost-effective approach to reach diverse populations and deliver lifestyle interventions. Treatment fidelity of the delivery of a telehealth coaching intervention in the Lifestyle Intervention for oVarian cancer enhanced survival (LIVES) study is evaluated here to establish the level of fidelity achieved using a student-model of health coaching for cancer survivors. Methods: LIVES (n=1205) is a randomized, controlled trial wherein 601 ovarian cancer survivors were assigned to an intervention emphasizing a high fiber, low fat diet, increased fruit and vegetable intake, and increased physical activity. To promote behavior change, participants engaged in structured telephone coaching calls with trained nutrition science students over a 24-month period. Coaching fidelity was evaluated using a checklist developed a- priori for LIVES. A total of 259 randomly selected calls were evaluated by two independent reviewers using the established checklist and a score of ≥11 out of 14 points was considered fidelity adherent. Results: Scored calls represented 173 individual participants and 87% of calls were considered fidelity adherent. The average fidelity score was 12.1 ± 1.4. Of calls scored, intervention specific goal setting was documented in 88%, self-efficacy in 46%, and assessment of barriers and facilitators to change in 97%. In relation to behavior change, 79% of participants were meeting ≥3 of 5 study goals by the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: In the LIVES trial, high fidelity is demonstrated in the delivery of an intervention utilizing a student-model for telehealth coaching. This model is a valid approach to remotely deliver lifestyle interventions for ovarian cancer survivors and could be considered for future telehealth interventions.

Keywords: Ovarian Cancer, Telehealth, Survivorship