title: Targeting those in need: baseline data from the first English National Health Service (NHS) health trainer service.
abstract: As part of a wider strategy to reduce health inequalities, England's National Health Service has introduced health trainers (HTs) to facilitate healthier behaviour among disadvantaged groups. This study reports baseline data from the first English HT service: assessing whether the HTs reached socially disadvantaged clients engaging in unhealthy behaviours and describing client belief characteristics relevant to the delivery of the service. Data from 864 clients show that the service reached disadvantaged groups and that those groups were engaging in risky health behaviours. Self-efficacy about changing behaviour was not strong and clients were unlikely to have made explicit behaviour-change plans prior to attending the service. Implications for HT services around targeting those most in need and supporting psychological triggers for change are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Dawn Louise
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Falko F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Sniehotta
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010560:Personnel Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013222:State Medicine; D055815:Young Adult