HealtheSteps™ Program – FAQ for Coaches

What is HealtheSteps™?

HealtheSteps™ is an evidence-based lifestyle coaching program originating from Canada. It helps participants improve their health through practical strategies in exercise, physical activity, healthy eating, mindfulness, sleep, time in nature, and social connectedness. The program is grounded in lifestyle medicine, which has been shown to prevent, manage, and even reverse common chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. At HKU, HealtheSteps™ is being embedded into the medical curriculum to provide medical students with experiential coaching practice while promoting their own well-being.

What is this project about?

This pilot study, led by Professor Amy Pui Pui Ng, examines how experiential health coaching can enhance medical students’ competencies and personal well-being. The study aims to understand how taking on a structured coaching role influences confidence, communication skills, and knowledge of lifestyle medicine, while also testing the feasibility of integrating HealtheSteps™ into the HKUMed curriculum.

Who can participate?

Only HKU medical students in MBBS Years II to VI are eligible to join as student coaches. Participants in the program will be any HKU students who wish to improve their health, but they will not be matched with coaches from the same year or program. Coaches will not be paired with participants they already know, ensuring impartiality and professionalism in the coaching relationship.

What does participation involve?

Student coaches will first complete the HealtheSteps™ training, which includes eight hours of online modules, three training sessions, and a competency test. Successful completion leads to the “Certificate of HealtheSteps™ Foundation”. After certification, coaches are assigned participants and conduct monthly coaching sessions over six months, either in person or online. Each session lasts 60–90 minutes and focuses on setting lifestyle goals, reviewing progress, identifying barriers, and applying behavior change principles. Coaches also complete baseline and six‑month surveys on their own health, well-being, and communication skills, and may be invited to join an optional reflection interview at the end of the program. “Certification in HealtheSteps Applied Coaching” provided after coaching at least one participant.

What are the expectations and code of conduct?

Coaches are expected to act professionally and respectfully, maintain confidentiality, communicate clearly, and honor scheduled sessions. They must not provide medical or clinical advice, as the coaching process focuses on motivation, goal setting, and support rather than diagnosis or treatment. Any health concerns raised by participants should be referred through the pathways outlined in training.

How much time is required?

The commitment includes initial training, monthly coaching sessions, brief documentation, and survey completion. The workload is flexible but requires consistency and reliability across the six‑month period.

Are there risks?

Participation is considered low risk. Coaches may occasionally feel challenged during behavior‑change conversations or encounter sensitive topics. Support is available from the research team at all times.

What are the benefits?

Although benefits cannot be guaranteed, many student coaches report improved communication skills, greater confidence in lifestyle discussions, healthier personal habits, and a deeper understanding of behavior change. Participation also contributes to medical education innovation and offers the chance to be part of a meaningful health promotion initiative.

How is confidentiality maintained?

Survey responses, reflections, and interview content will be anonymized and stored securely on HKU servers. No identifying information will appear in reports or publications. Coaches’ names and emails will be shared only with their assigned participants for communication, and the use of social media for coach–participant communication is discouraged.

Can I withdraw?

Yes. Students may withdraw at any time without penalty. Data collected up to that point may still be used in anonymized form unless otherwise requested.

How will the data be used?

Findings may be published in academic journals, presented at conferences, or used for curriculum development and future research in lifestyle‑medicine education.

Interested in joining?

Please register with the following link.

Want to learn more?

Contact our Research Team at hesteps@hku.hk.