Linking a motivational interviewing curriculum to the chronic care model

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Care
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Internal medicine residents often lack training in health behavior counseling due to educational priorities and systemic barriers.
• Effective patient counseling is crucial for managing chronic diseases exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyle choices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and pilot a curriculum linking motivational interviewing (MI) training to the self-management support (SMS) component of the chronic care model for primary care residents.
• To address the gap in resident training for effective health behavior counseling.

Main Methods:

• A three-module curriculum was implemented for 30 primary care residents, integrating the chronic care model with MI skills for SMS.
• Training included case-based instruction, role-playing, and clinical observation, reinforced in practice.
• A qualitative assessment evaluated the curriculum's feasibility and impact on resident confidence and patient interaction.

Main Results:

• Residents reported increased confidence in discussing health behavior change with patients.
• Faculty observed improved resident collaboration with patients and enhanced patient readiness for self-management goal setting.
• The curriculum was deemed feasible to develop and implement.

Conclusions:

• A curriculum linking MI and SMS within the chronic care model is feasible and can be reinforced in clinical settings.
• This training may enhance residents' skills in health behavior counseling and patient engagement in chronic disease management.