Disability and Health Journal

Disabilities make individuals more susceptible to lapses in health and degradation of condition, and it is viewed as essential by this report to improve the preventative methods that are currently in use. This report assesses the effects and viability of one technique in particular: an assigned student wellness coach. On the surface of things, twinning a student pre-healthcare worker with a disabled person seems likely both to improve preventative care and provide experience to future clinical healthcare professionals: this research paper sought to affirm this logic with a trial program.

This study analyzes the effects of a three month program in which 32 student wellness coaches, aged between 19 and 23, attended the needs of 15 people with disabilities aged between 28 and 74. The study observes weight loss in the disabled participants, greater functionality, fitness and universal satisfaction with the program. Overall the study notes that this trial demonstrated a great deal of benefit and feasibility.

Authors: Hui-Ju Young, Melissa L. Erickson, Kristen B. Johnson, Mary Ann Johnson, and Kevin K. McCully, Article first published online: 12 MAR 2014

Publisher: Disability & Health Journal, ScienceDirect.
Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages 345–352, July 2015

• Read the article here.