Self-Report After Randomly Assigned Supervision Does not Predict Ability to Practice Motivational Interviewing.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Clinical Psychology
• Healthcare Professional Training

Background:

• Motivational interviewing (MI) is a key skill for behavior change interventions.
• Accurate assessment of MI skills is crucial for effective clinical practice and training.
• The relationship between self-perceived and objectively measured MI skills requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the correlation between self-reported and objectively assessed MI skills in clinicians.
• To evaluate the impact of training and supervision on the congruence of self-report and objective MI skill measures.
• To determine the reliability of clinician self-assessment for gauging MI competency.

Main Methods:

• 96 clinicians received MI training and were randomized to supervision or workshop-only conditions.
• Self-reported MI skills were measured using the MI understanding questionnaire (MIU).
• Objective MI skills were assessed using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) system at multiple time points.

Main Results:

• Clinician self-reported MI skills significantly increased post-workshop and with ongoing supervision.
• No significant correlation was found between self-reported MIU scores and objectively measured MITI scores.
• Supervision enhanced self-perceived MI ability, but this did not reflect actual skill proficiency.

Conclusions:

• Clinician self-report is an unreliable indicator of objectively measured MI skills.
• Community programs should not solely rely on self-assessment for training needs.
• Training clinicians to accurately self-assess their MI skills may be necessary for effective professional development.