Motivational Interviewing Implementation in Primary Care: A "Terrifying Challenge" Becoming a "Professional...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Behavioral Science
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based counseling approach.
• MI implementation in primary care is limited despite training.
• Evidence on MI implementation in practice is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe primary care clinicians' professional transformation in implementing MI.
• To explore the process of MI implementation through interprofessional communities of practice (ICP-MI).

Main Methods:

• Qualitative data collection: research journal, participant observation (76 hours/16 clinicians), focus groups.
• Analysis approach: general inductive.
• Conceptualization framework: Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Main Results:

• MI implementation followed four processes: ambivalence, introspection, experimentation, and mobilization.
• Clinicians moved from ambivalence to realizing the value and feasibility of MI.
• Intrinsic factors (personal traits, clinical priority) and extrinsic factors (organizational support) influenced implementation.

Conclusions:

• MI implementation is a motivational endeavor, influenced by individual and organizational factors.
• Integrating educational activities and organizational resources is crucial for MI programs.
• Findings offer integrated insights into MI processes and influencing factors for primary care.