Health coaching for people with uncontrolled hypertension - helping with lifestyle change
Susan Ivey, Professor
Public Health
Closed. This professor is continuing with Spring 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Fall 2024.
Students will be trained to take blood pressure readings and to use motivational interviewing strategies to help individuals in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties to make change in diet, physical activity, smoking, or other lifestyle behaviors. Coaches will work 1:1 with participants to give telephone and person to person support to make behavior change with the goal of helping them manage their high blood pressure. They will also help people learn how to use a digital home blood pressure monitor to more frequently check their BP readings. During intake visits, subjects complete surveys and BP measurement at 0, 6, and 9 months. Students touch base frequently with their assigned subjects after intake. Students also conduct surveys with control participants who are not receiving coaching. Students may also learn data entry and basics of data analysis if interested. There is opportunity for students to gain skills in project management and research coordination — including team oversight, project materials development, and project planning—that can be applied to positions in many management and health care careers.
Role: Students will commit to weekly training classes for 13 weeks (September – early December). There are also weekly readings to complete. Research intake extends through Fall and Spring. However, subjects may need support through the summer as well (telephonic) so we are looking for students who can continue the coaching during the summer period, even if you are not taking classes.
Expected activities:
o Complete CITI biomedical human subjects training
o Learn health coaching strategies and blood pressure skills; learn
research activities for project
o Support recruitment, consenting and intake for study participants
o Interface with assigned participants roughly each 2-4 weeks including
some in-person visits.
Qualifications: Qualifications: Students should enjoy talking with people, especially about health and healthy behavior. Completion of a semester of statistics or prior clinic experience may also be helpful. Some URAP students may focus more on interfacing with subjects, others may enjoy the data entry and analysis side more. There is room for both types of roles. Spanish language fluency is a plus but not required. Bring your community knowledge and diversity!
Hours: 6-8 hrs
Off-Campus Research Site: On campus: Health Research for Action, 2180 Oxford, 4th floor, School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
Related website: http://healthresearchforaction.org/
Social Sciences Biological & Health Sciences