JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digital interventions provide a scalable, resource-saving approach to promote well-being and health and prevent lifestyle-related chronic health conditions, but their ability to engage and benefit diverse audiences remains a challenge.

Objective:

This study aims to evaluate a 6-month web-based wellness coaching program among working-age adults. The program is theory- and evidence-based, co-designed, and targets three behavioral domains (physical activity, diet, sleep) with an overarching focus on stress–recovery balance.

Methods:

The study follows a 2-arm parallel cluster randomized controlled design and lasts 12 months. Participants with age 18–65, proficiency in Finnish, and access to Internet were recruited from diverse worksites (n=13) in Central and Southwestern Finland. The sites were allocated 1:1 to intervention (coaching program) or waitlist control arm (general information on well-being). Data collection comprises fitness tests (handgrip strength, heart rate variability, body composition, waist circumference, BMI) and questionnaires conducted at months 0, 6, and 12, together with continuous monitoring of implementation costs, study uptake, dropout, and engagement (eg, visits to and time spent on the coaching platform). The primary outcome is the participant-level change in self-reported well-being (WHO-5 Well-Being Index) from baseline to 12 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in measures reflecting physical fitness, anthropometrics, lifestyle behaviors, health, and functional capacity. Further evaluation domains include health economic impact (eg, changes in well-being-, productivity-, and quality-adjusted life years), feasibility (study uptake, dropout, and engagement), and user experiences (acceptability, overall evaluation, and readiness to recommend the coaching program). Planned analyses will be conducted on the intention-to-treat principle and include linear mixed-effects models and health economic modelling.

Results:

The study received ethical approval in May 2025. Participant registration was open in September–October 2025, informed consents were collected in October–November 2025, and baseline assessments were conducted in October–December 2025. Consents were obtained from 294 and complete baseline data from 268 participants. Data collection will be completed within 2026, data analysis is planned for 2026–2027, and the dissemination of results will begin in 2027. The study is conducted as a part of the European Union’s Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI) that has received funding from the EU4Health Programme 2021–2027.

Conclusions:

The study contributes to evidence on the potential of fully automated digital tools to enhance workforce well-being and save societal costs. Clinical Trial: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN12097902 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12097902 (date of registration: 06/08/2025)