The effects of wellness coaching on the wellness and health behaviors of early adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the impact of a wellness coaching program on the health behaviors of eighth-grade students. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: The study population comprised 132 adolescents (Wellness Coaching Group n = 33, Health Education Group n = 33, Control Group n = 66). METHODS: A pretest/posttest randomized controlled study was used. Students completed a demographic information form, the Five-Factor Wellness Scale-Adolescent Form (5F-Wellness-AF) and the Adolescent Lifestyle Scale (ALPS). The wellness coaching program of group education, individual consulting, physical activity, and health education was provided for 12 weeks. RESULTS: The data indicated a significant difference in the total 5F-Wellness-AF and ALPS scores after the program. No statistically significant difference was observed in the total scores of the two scales for the Health Education Group, while the Control Group's 5F-Wellness-AF mean score declined after the intervention. At the beginning of the study, 15.2% of students in the wellness coaching program were overweight; this percentage decreased to 9.1% at the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: This wellness coaching program significantly increased the wellness of adolescents and improved their healthy lifestyle behaviors. This program can be used together with health education provided by a public health nurse.

Evaluation of breast self-examination (BSE) application in first and second degree relatives of patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine beliefs concerning breast self-examination in first- and second-degree relatives of patients with breast cancer and evaluate their breast self-examination (BSE) application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey study was conducted in an oncology polyclinic and general surgery clinic of a hospital in Ankara, the capital of Turkey with a sample of 140 women. RESULTS: It was determined that 60.7% of the participants had conducted BSE and 48.1% had undergone a clinical breast examination. Perceived self- efficacy of the women who performed BSE were significantly higher compared with women who did not practice BSE (p<0.001) Furthermore, perceived barriers were lower among those who had performed BSE (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that women who perceived higher self-efficacy (OR: 1.119, 95% CI: 1.056- 1.185, p<0.001) and had regular CBE (OR: 8.250, 95% CI: 3.140-21.884, p<0.001) and educational status (OR: 5.287, 95% CI: 1.480-18.880, p<0.01) were more likely to perform BSE. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study indicated that perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, and educational status could be predictors of BSE behavior among the first- and second-degree relatives of patients with breast cancer. Therefore, BSE training programs that emphasize self-efficacy and address perceived barriers are recommended.