- David F Malewski: Touro University California.
- Shane P Desselle: Touro University California.
- Ranjit Kali-Rai: Touro University California.
Motivational interviewing (MI) is increasingly recognized for its patient-centered approach to clinician-patient communication and often effective in evoking appropriate changes in patient behavior. Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs are increasingly incorporating MI education; however, doing so represents a challenge regarding availability of both time and labor capital. This study reports on the use of a 90-minute software-based simulation and tutorial coupled with a 90-minute lecture in a 3-hour course session. In a subsequent session consisting of several brief interactions with standardized patients (SPs), students reflected upon their strengths and challenges as a result of attempting to apply the MI principles they learned during the educational intervention. Students' responses to a questionnaire delivered both before and after the simulation and lecture, showed improvements in several attitudinal components related to use of MI, as well as developing self-efficacies in deploying patient-centered communication strategies. A post-intervention survey without students' opportunity to study/prepare saw gains in student knowledge about MI. The measurements employed to determine student's attitude and knowledge showed good to very good internal consistency reliably based on calculated Cronbach's alpha and KR-20. Student reflections indicated their understanding of MI principles, even though they fell short of implementing them in large part during their encounters with SPs.