Actionpact profile

The word actionpact speaks of making a pact, or commitment to take action. actionpact health promotion software enables people to take action to become free of their lifestyle related health conditions. It also enables health professionals, hospitals and agencies to be actively involved in reducing the adverse consequences of these conditions.

actionpact comprises a team of medical contributors, health professional and new media specialists who produce interactive health promotion software, with the vision of enhancing "your health, your fitness and your life."

actionpact was started in 2001 by Dr Andrew Lawson who saw that positive lifestyle changes could be realised through health promotion software and services. The global explosion of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, raised cholesterol, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive respiratory disease (emphysema) and cancer is of growing concern. There is an increasing awareness of the link between these conditions and lifestyles characterised by inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking and stress. Although people with such conditions generally wish to be free of them, they may feel trapped in their unhealthy lifestyle choices and unable to make significant progress. From the busy doctor's perspective, there is often insufficient time to address these issues.

Lifestyle change can be difficult, necessitating a high level of commitment. To form new habits, a shift in thinking is required, together with repetition and perseverance until they become established. Only then are the benefits to health, fitness and life realised. This can be achieved by providing education, motivation, support and followup.

actionpact health promotion software concepts have emerged to address these concerns. They have been designed as consultation tools for use by a doctor or other health professional in a real consultation. Alternatively they can be used by patients themselves. The software uses the same motivational interviewing style that a doctor, nurse or counsellor uses with patients. It addresses where a person is at with their lifestyle issues, assesses how they are affecting them and sets in place a specific plan for change. actionpact health promotion software will also enable hospitals, agencies, quit groups and companies to meet their own health objectives by equipping them with effective programmes for lifestyle change. actionpact’s first module smokestop, is a simple effective smoking cessation programme based on international guidelines. Smoking was chosen because it is such a significant lifestyle health issue.