PURPOSE: Increase practitioners' Motivational Interviewing (MI) skill set to develop intrinsic motivation and behavior change competencies.
DESIGN: Pilot comparing intervention group with waitlist-control group.
SETTING: Health Plan in northeast of U.S.
INTERVENTION: Training program including a 3 day 19 hour MI training intensive, 1.5 hour follow-up skill-building trainings, and quality assurance review using an MI assessment tool paired with strengths-based mentoring. Cohort 1 (experimental group) received the intervention for 6-months and cohort 2 for 3 months (control group).
MEASURES: Practitioners' MI skill set was assessed pre- and post-intervention using Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment (MICA). Practitioners' MI knowledge and attitudes were assessed pre- and post-training using adapted Motivational Interviewing Knowledge and Attitudes Test (MIKAT). Active learning and confidence questionnaires were administered post-training.
ANALYSIS: A generalized linear mixed model with repeated measures to analyze difference in MICA growth rates; paired T-test for MIKAT pre/post training analysis. Descriptive statistics for active learning and confidence.
RESULTS: MICA scores significantly improved for both cohorts ( < .0001). Practitioners had significant increase in knowledge and attitudes for MI ( < .001) and confidence in using MI ( < .01). High levels of active learning were observed (93-100%).
CONCLUSION: With planning, adequate resources/support, and iterative processes for adjustment, practitioners can improve their MI skill set in a short period of time with modest investment of practitioner resources.
