CTF and Friskvården i Värmland collaborating on digital services that promote health

As a direct result of the collaboration, Friskvården i Värmland now offers SMS- coaching to its clients.

– The study has proven that SMS-coachning helps the clients increase their capabilities and opportunities to reach their goal behavior, says researcher Charlotte Bäccman. It also increased the clients’ overall self-rated wellbeing. The service provides a reminder of the desired behavior as well as social and emotional support. Many clients seem to have become more aware of their own responsibility for the changes, and this increased accountability is important for the maintenance of the new behavior.

The researchers have been studying how SMS- coaching affect motivation among clients who come to Friskvården i Värmland for support in changing their eating and exercise habits. Personalized text messages based on each client’s needs are being sent by a health coach with whom the client also have physical meetings. The frequency and content were agreed upon by the client and health coach.

– From the coach’s point of view, the SMS provided an added value to the ordinary wellness dialog; not only in terms of increased flexibility but also by getting to know the clients better – they became part of the client’s everyday life, says Charlotte Bäccman.

SMS-coaching did increase the workload to some extent, but the health coaches solved this with finding an increased structure or setting their own reminders. The SMS-coaching gave an added value when the pandemic hit. Many clients could receive coaching despite restrictions and personal situations.

– Despite the myriad of digital applications designed to support behavioral changes, few can be adapted to meet each individual’s unique challenges and needs, says Charlotte Bäccman. Therefore, this study wanted to explore if, and how, individually tailored SMS-coaching could support behavior changes among individuals with different challenges and needs.

Friskvården i Värmland (Wellness Värmland) is a non-profit organisation with the mission to contribute to the health of the region. A majority of its clients have been prescribed there by a physician and need help to learn healthier lifestyles. The study is a part of the initiative DigitalWell Arena, and its endeavor to innovate new digital health and wellness services.

– We had the privilege of participating in this study and test SMS- coaching as a behavior change technique, says Per Hjalmarsson, Head of operations for Friskvården in Värmland. It has given us valuable experience and increased knowledge of a working method that could strengthen the health process when communicating with clients, and thereby strengthen their motivation and ability to change lifestyle habits. We feel inspired to implement this as
a continued way of working in our organisation.

• Read more: www.friskvarden.org