Motivational Interview In The Health Care System

Knowing the importance of motivational interviewing (MI) in health care, as well as its application and potential benefits, is important in promoting healthy habits. It is also useful for eradicating practices that can be harmful to health.

In this connection, this article published in RET mentions how motivating interviews are important in order to bring about a change in behavior. This is because it facilitates interpersonal relationships and helps resolve ambivalence.

The process of motivational interviewing in health contexts

This is a strategy or tool to encourage and promote changes in certain behaviors that can be harmful.

It is especially relevant in adolescence, as many of their health problems are often related to how they behave.

In this regard, and contrary to what we may think, some studies, such as this one published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 2017, reveal that it is more effective in those who are not inclined or motivated to change than in those who have already decided to do so.

Thus, much has been written about health-promoting strategies for achieving behavior change. Please note that the use of incentives is one of these suggestions.

Is it a strategy or a communication style?

Motivational interviewing (MI) in health care is often recommended as an evidence-based approach to behavior change. According to a report published in Gaceta Medica, “practitioners who chose motivational interviewing (MI) achieved a greater health benefit for patients than those who continued with regular counseling.” However, the definitions vary widely, including outdated and inaccurate interpretations.

What then is a motivational interview?

According to research conducted by Miller and Rollnick in the book Motivational Conversation: Support for Change:

Thus, the qualities of MI, according to the same authors, include:

• An indicative communication style that assesses the importance of good listening, information and recommendations
• It should give people the opportunity to modify certain behaviors and become more resilient, and it is also based on a respectful way that facilitates the natural processes of change and the development of autonomy.

• In addition, it reflects the existence of some ambivalence towards the possibility of making a change which, although beneficial in the medium term, may not always be visualized as achievable.

Some considerations about the technique of motivational interviewing

It is important for the professional who implements it to develop open-ended questions. The type they could also ask during a job interview, for example. This in turn will enable exploration of people’s experiences, perspectives and ideas.

In parallel, the basis for reflections is to listen carefully and try to understand what a person is saying. You can achieve this by repeating, reformulating or offering a deeper insight into those who are trying to communicate. The latter is a basic skill of motivational interviewing; especially how we express empathy, a fairly relevant ingredient.

When it comes to MI in the health sector…

It is important to know the meaning, scope, logic and method of motivational interviewing (MI). Whether this is the only or best option is something every professional who interacts with young people must identify.

Finally, it is also important that those who use it or want to implement it, base their actions on the best available evidence on the subject. Like what we described above.