Cost of implementing tailored motivational interviewing training in youth HIV clinics

Motivational interviewing (MI) may improve HIV outcomes in adolescents and emerging adults, but competence in delivering MI is critical. Although providers may receive introductory exposure to MI through workshops or didactic sessions, achieving competence requires more rigorous, structured training. Tailored Motivational Interviewing (TMI), is a set of targeted implementation strategies integrated into MI training to tailor it for adolescent HIV care providers and improve competence.

Using a retrospective analysis of program training, personnel, and performance records, the cost to train beyond beginner MI competency was calculated using a practice perspective, and tested by sensitivity analysis.

The cost of training a staff member to intermediate or expert MI competence was estimated at $6,286 for the base model.

TMI had per-provider costs comparable to other MI training models, supporting feasibility and sustainability for youth HIV clinic implementation.

The main study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov in the National Library of Medicine with the ID NCT03681912. (Registration date: 2018-09-07).