Barriers to Starting Health Programs
Most people understand the importance of leading a healthy and active lifestyle. But why is committing to a health program so difficult? In a recent study conducted by the Centene Center for Health Transformation, families with a child enrolled in Medicaid who were eligible for a pediatric obesity program shared their top barriers in starting and maintaining a health program. Top obstacles among respondents were busy schedules, a one-size fits all approach, and difficulty getting in touch (e.g., wrong phone numbers and home addresses).
Family members found the most success when they received tailored health information and established relevant goals at the beginning of the program. This allowed the participants to strive for something important to them and achieve a sense of accomplishment.
In addition to providing insight into program participation barriers, the study also reveals details about intervention methods that can be applied throughout populations to promote healthy eating and activity behaviors. The piece, “A formative study to understand perspectives of families eligible for a pediatric obesity program: a qualitative study,” also speaks to program modifications that could enable further reach and impact in the future. To learn more from the published article, click here: https://bit.ly/2UQV1C2
About The Centene Center for Health Transformation
The Centene Center for Health Transformation™ is a community-corporate-academic healthcare partnership that advances life-centric health research to improve lives so that communities can thrive. For more information regarding the Centene Center for Health Transformation, visit https://www.centenecenter.wustl.edu.