Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025

E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Delivery of smoking cessation treatment via live chat: An analysis of client-centered coaching skills and behavior
Michael V Burke1, Sarah Cha2, Therese M Shumaker3
1Nicotine Dependence Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA.
Objective:
This qualitative study explored whether evidence-based tobacco cessation treatment components can be deployed via web-based live chat coaching.
Methods:
N = 100 randomly selected chats were coded. Researchers used a structured coding guide to note the presence of 3 Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills and 61 behavior change techniques (BCTs).
Results:
MI skills were observed in 86% of chats: 31 chats incorporated one skill, 31 incorporated two, and 24 incorporated all three. Open-ended questions were most common (76%), followed by affirmations (47%) and reflective listening statements (38%). BCTs were observed in 100% of chats: 21% involved one-five BCTs, 69% involved six-10 BCTs, and 10% involved 11 or more BCTs. Mean number of BCTs per chat was 7.25 (SD=2.5; range 2-17). The most common BCTs were Social Support (99%), Reward/Threat (95%), Natural Consequences (82%), Regulation (82%), Goals/Planning (64%), and Self Belief (42%).
Conclusions:
Tobacco cessation coaching using MI skills and evidence-based BCTs can be delivered via live chat. This synchronous modality allows the delivery of an intervention tailored to the user's motivations and goals.
Practice Implications:
Web-based live chat can broaden the reach of tobacco treatment specialists to deploy evidence-based counseling skills and behavior change techniques in personalized, accessible coaching.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care
Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Therapeutic Communication
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation

