Primary care nurses' performance in motivational interviewing: a quantitative descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare
• Nursing Practice
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative approach to enhance behavior change.
• MI is effective for lifestyle issues and chronic disease management, recommended in prevention guidelines.
• Assessing MI proficiency in primary care is crucial for effective patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate primary care nurses' adherence to the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Code.
• To compare nurses' self-rated performance with objective assessments of their MI skills.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 32 audio-recorded MI sessions from 12 primary care nurses.
• Utilized the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Code 3.1.1 for session evaluation.
• Nurses completed self-assessment questionnaires post-session.

Main Results:

• No nurse achieved full proficiency across all MI components in any session.
• Two nurses failed to demonstrate basic proficiency in any MI aspect.
• Nurses performed better in "complex reflections" than in "open questions."

Conclusions:

• Primary care nurses demonstrated a need for enhanced proficiency in motivational interviewing.
• Additional training, feedback, and supervision are recommended for nurses using MI.
• Improving MI skills is essential for supporting patient lifestyle changes in primary care settings.