Enhancing Group Coaching Competencies in the National Diabetes Prevention Program: Evaluation of the Group Coaching Certificate Program

Lifestyle Coaches are critical in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program. CDC partnered with the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) to develop the Group Coaching Certificate Program (GCCP) for National DPP Lifestyle Coaches. This training program’s aim: to empower coaches to integrate evidence-based practices in group health and wellness coaching into their lifestyle change programs. The certificate program was developed and refined through 4 field tests. We focused program evaluation on feasibility of training implementation, coach satisfaction in the training, and the training’s impact on Lifestyle Coaches. Feasibility. Trainees’ completion rate in the GCCP was 85%. Satisfaction. Lifestyle Coaches reported high satisfaction; 87.5% stated the course fully met their expectations, and 95% were “somewhat likely” or “very likely” to recommend it to others. Program impact. Lifestyle Coaches’ average final exam score was 87%, and their self-ratings of changes in group coaching skills showed significant gains in all 5 competency categories. Program evaluations strongly indicate the Group Coaching Certificate Program could be feasible and impactful. Data show that Lifestyle Coaches gained knowledge and skills in the evidence-based NBHWC-endorsed group coaching competencies. Future studies could examine the generalizability of these findings and the impact of the certificate program on National DPP participant health and well-being.