Implementing Evidence-Based Motivational Interviewing Strategies in the Care of Patients with Heart Failure

Motivational interviewing (MI) has positive effects on heart failure patient outcomes related to self-care. MI can be effectively used by the interprofessional team in the hospital and clinic settings, and it can be effective even in brief patient interactions. The spirit of MI uses collaboration, evocation, and honoring the patient's autonomy. Open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarization are skills used to build empathy and elicit change talk with the MI framework. Clinicians can consider obtaining feedback to improve their practice of MI techniques for enhanced efficacy in helping heart failure patients improve self-care behaviors.