Promoting the get healthy information and coaching service (GHS) in Australian-Chinese communities: facilitators and barriers

Lay Summary Obesity and being overweight are major public health concerns that health coaching can assist people to manage. The Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service (GHS) is a government telephone health coaching service that has improved the health of the general population but has had less participation of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. The Chinese population is the largest migrant group in Australia with increased risk of diabetes but had reduced access to the GHS program due to communication barriers. The GHS developed a pilot program for Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking) communities using bilingual coaches and translated material. Findings from 14 interviews with Chinese stakeholders and two focus groups (in Mandarin and Cantonese) with program participants sought to understand their experiences and success of promotional activities. Results demonstrated the bilingual program was culturally and linguistically appropriate. Participants formed positive relationships with coaches and felt the service promoted healthy eating and weight, and physical activity. Although Chinese stakeholders had concerns about participants' cultural familiarity with goal setting and achieving long-term change, participants said that they met their goals and were committed to the program. Strategies to enhance the program will include promoting the bilingual GHS to the communities and stakeholders. Obesity and being overweight are major public health concerns that health coaching can assist people to manage through encouraging self-management and behaviour change. The Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service (GHS) is a telephone health coaching service in Australia that has effectively improved the health of the general population but has had less participation of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations. The Chinese population is the largest migrant group in Australia with increased risk of diabetes but had reduced access to the GHS program due to communication barriers. The GHS developed a pilot program for Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking) communities using bilingual coaches and translated material to address these barriers. Qualitative research was undertaken with Chinese stakeholders (14 interviews) and 11 program participants from the group which had completed the program (2 focus groups in Mandarin and Cantonese) to understand their experiences and the success of promotional activities. This research does not contain the experiences of the people that withdrew from the program. The bilingual program was culturally and linguistically appropriate and addressed risk factors for chronic conditions. Participants formed positive relationships with bilingual coaches who they preferred to interpreters. They felt the program promoted healthy eating, weight and physical activity. Although Chinese stakeholders had concerns about participants' ability to goal set, participants said they met their health goals and were committed to the GHS program. Strategies to enhance the program included promoting the bilingual GHS to the communities and stakeholders. Factors to consider beyond language in adapting the program to the Australian Chinese communities include meeting the heterogenous needs of the older population, ensuring community engagement and addressing cultural beliefs and practices.