Motivational Interviewing for Pediatric Residents: A Case-Based Workshop on Adolescent Substance Use

Substance use counseling is an essential component of pediatric training, especially given the recent rise in substance use-related morbidity and mortality among adolescents. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that clinicians and others treating youth incorporate screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) practices. Limited familiarity remains a barrier to implementation. This workshop aims to strengthen familiarity with motivational interviewing (MI) through interactive learning.

This 90-minute session was conducted for second-year pediatric residents and was facilitated by pediatricians. The session included a 20-minute didactic about MI, 2 role-play cases, and structured debriefs. Materials included a facilitator guide, slides, an observer checklist, and MI reference sheets. Participants completed pre- and postsession surveys that assessed their self-reported knowledge, comfort, and intent to apply MI skills.

Twenty-four PGY-2 residents completed the initial survey, and 17 completed both pre- and postintervention surveys. Most had prior exposure to MI through lectures (92%), standardized patient encounters (79%), and case-based learning (75%). All agreed that MI training is crucial to their role. Among paired respondents, self-reported comfort increased in using MI, counseling patients, and referring patients to treatment. This intervention also increased knowledge scores.

This workshop improved residents' self-reported comfort in applying MI during clinical encounters. The provided materials make the session adaptable for other residency programs.