Tsung-Pei

Introduction/Problem

Health problems and poor lifestyle behaviors are widely recognized as being endemic to the transport industry, particularly among long-haul truck drivers. These drivers often sit for long periods and have limited access to healthcare facilities, contributing to a higher susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Despite the well-documented health risks, there are surprisingly few published intervention studies aimed at improving physical activity and dietary habits among truck drivers. Telephone health coaching has emerged as an effective and cost-saving method to address these issues. This project aimed to explore the practice question: Does telephone health coaching reduce the body weight, body mass index (BMI), and improve overall quality of life of long-haul truck drivers? To achieve this, the project conducted three months of telephone health coaching for long-haul truck drivers in Chicago and examined the impact of this intervention on their body weight, BMI, and overall quality of life.

Methods

Long-haul truck drivers aged 18 or older and his/her BMI is 25 and above were recruited to this study. Pre-clinic data were collected from the long-haul truck drivers before the intervention. This data included demographic information (age, gender, race and education level), as well as initial measurements of height and body weight. In addition, the Health-Related Quality of Life Scale (HRQOL) using the CDC Healthy Day Core Module survey were collected before the intervention. During the intervention, participants received up to six 20-minute coaching calls, scheduled every two weeks for three months. The intervention calls covered general health promotion, diet and physical activity checklists, and sleep hygiene.

Findings

The majority of truck driver participants were African Americans male. Our results showed that a short-term telephone health coaching significantly reduced the body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) of truck drivers, but did not improve the perceived quality of life.

Practice Implication

Participants in the coaching program benefited from improved health outcomes, including improved weight management. The coaching program led by an advanced practice nurse, aimed to provide guidance and support for making positive lifestyle changes. Participants received personalized coaching calls focused on their specific goals and needs, enhancing their motivation and ability to make sustainable changes. This project demonstrates that a remote health coaching program, led by nursing professionals, can be practically used to empower truck drivers to make informed decisions about their health.