Implementing lifestyle medicine in health systems:
a multiple case study

Lifestyle medicine is the use of behavior change counseling to prevent and treat chronic diseases. There is a strong (and growing) body of evidence demonstrating its efficacy. However, health systems and medical professionals still face significant barriers when implementing lifestyle medicine.

This multiple case study investigated the facilitators and barriers impacting lifestyle medicine implementation in US health systems.

I joined the study team, run by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) in 2021. Since then, I have played an integral role in:

My role.

Study design.

  • Craft sampling and selection methods

  • Draft in-depth interview guide, founded in Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)

  • Published the study protocol manuscript

Data collection.

  • Conducted in-depth interviews

  • Ensured informed consent was received

  • Coordinated recruiting and scheduling of participants

Data analysis.

  • Coordinated drafting of case narratives

  • Led analytical analysis via coding and thematic analysis

  • Participated in group model building, yielding a causal loop diagram

Dissemination of results.

  • Published a thematic analysis of professional education implementation strategies

  • Delivered presentations and posters at national conferences

  • Shared findings with trade organizations and health system leaders to inform implementation strategies (see example below)
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Training healthcare professionals in health behavior counseling