Integrating Lay Health Coaches Into Primary Care: Acceptability, Credibility, and Effectiveness From the Provider Perspective

The purpose of this mixed-methods, cross-sectional study was to assess the acceptability, effectiveness, and credibility of lay health coaches from the perspective of primary care personnel during coach integration into primary care teams through the Management of Diabetes in Everyday Life (MODEL) study. Surveys of 46 primary care clinic personnel were conducted in June 2017 and July 2017 to assess the acceptability, effectiveness, and credibility of lay health coaches in the clinics. Clinic personnel rated coach acceptability, impact, and credibility on a five-point Likert scale as 3.78, 3.76-4.04, and 3.71-3.95, respectively. Additionally, interviews revealed support for a team-based approach and recognition of the potential of coaches to enhance care. In the interviews clinic personnel also reported a lack of provider time to counsel patients as well as a need for improved provider-coach communication.