Health Coaching Telemedicine Program for Lung Transplant Candidates With End-stage Lung Disease.

Lung transplantation has become standard of care for selected patients with end stage pulmonary disease. While on the lung transplantation waiting list, patient health, emotional wellbeing and quality of life can deteriorate. By improving or changing patient physical activity, healthy nutrition, tobacco cessation, patient preparation for lung transplantation can be optimized, risk of complications can be reduced, and outcomes post transplantation can be improved. The potential of health coaching to improve health outcomes has been demonstrated in several chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, health coaching was proven effective through telemedicine. No studies so far have addressed the potential effect of a pre-transplant health coaching program on existing medical conditions, transplant rates and post-transplant outcomes. Investigators hypothesized that health coaching can improve health outcomes and survival of lung transplantation candidates by supporting and growing patients' capacity to cope with the demands of their end stage pulmonary disease.