Application of Motivational Interviewing in climate-sensitive health counselling - A workshop report

This workshop report explores the application of Motivational Interviewing (MI) in Climate-sensitive Health Counselling (CSHC) within the context of primary health care. As there is a growing interest in the connection of individual health and climate change mitigation, we provide practical guidance on integrating MI techniques in CSHC.

In June 2023, a 2-day workshop on MI was conducted at the Institute of General Medicine, University of Cologne. The workshop, facilitated by a certified MI trainer, combined theoretical content with practical group exercises. In a second workshop the staff of the Institute of General Medicine discussed the application of MI in CSHC.

We identified and specified five tools to apply MI in CSHC: A) risk assessment scores, B) relevance assessment scales, C) decision matrices, D) confidence assessment scales, and E) SMART goals. These tools provide practical insights for integrating MI into primary care consultations, offering a time-efficient approach to CSHC.

Our results present a promising approach for healthcare professionals to incorporate climate-related aspects into health counselling of patients. Feasibility and effects of MI in CSHC are still unclear and require further research.

The tools identified provide practical guidance for the application of MI in climate-sensitive health counselling (CSHC) as well as guidance on conducting appropriate studies.