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Monash University > News and Events > Monash Memo
International success for health program
25 November 2009
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| Professor Colette Browning and Professor Shane Thomas with clinical coaches at Fangzhuang Community Hospital in Beijing. |
A health program developed in Melbourne and exported to Beijing, China has been recognised as that nation's top health initiative.
The program, known locally as the Good Life Club and in China as the Happy Life Club, was evaluated by staff from the Monash School of Primary Health Care before being implemented in Beijing.
The program's success there prompted the Chinese Government to name it its number one showcase health initiative for its 60th anniversary celebrations.
Project leaders, Monash Professors Shane Thomas and Colette Browning said the recognition would ensure the program's longevity in China and would help to maximise its potential reach.
"We know the program is effective and to have it recognised in such a significant way is a credit to the health care teams who worked to ensure it became a reality," Professor Thomas said.
The program uses clinical coaches trained in motivational interviewing to support patients with chronic illness to better manage their condition. It was developed by local health services and GPs in Whitehorse City Council.
It is a technique that has been used to manage people who are addicted to smoking however there is limited published research on how effective it is for the management of chronic illness.
"Many illnesses including diabetes require a patient to modify their behaviour to manage their illness better. In the case of diabetes, research shows that changes in lifestyle factors such as dietary changes, weight loss, and reducing stress frequently result in major improvements in health and well-being," Professor Browning said.
"People typically go through set stages in their behaviour change process. The Happy Life Club uses these stages of change to accelerate and sustain behaviour change."
The team will have the results of the first trial within six months.
"The export of the Good Life Club to China is a great advertisement for the strength of primary health care approaches to chronic illness management in Australia," Professor Browning said.
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