Abstract :
While Motivational Interviewing (MI) is effective in reducing client problem
behaviours, including health-related behaviours, there is little evidence about how MI training
enhances practitioner skills. Aims: The current pilot study addressed this lack by training two
health practitioners (Diabetes Nurse Educators) in MI, and evaluated the effect of MI training
on both practitioner and patient behaviour when MI was delivered in a clinical settting, with
patients experiencing difficultieswith diabetes self-management. Methods: Comparisons were
made between the practitioners’ skills in a baseline condition (Patient Education; PE) and after
training in Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), a four-session form of MI. At the
same time, the effects of the two interventions on patient in-session behaviour were compared.
Practitioner and patient data were obtained from transcripts of all PE and MET sessions, which
were independently coded using Motivational Interviewing Skills Code therapist and client
behaviour counts. Results: Compared with their baseline performance, practitioners, when
trained to practice MET, behaved in ways consistent with MI, and this appears to have evoked
beneficial in-session behaviour from the patients. Conclusions: These results suggest that the
MI training was effective.
