JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an established communication method for enhancing intrinsic motivation for changing health behaviour. E-learning can reduce the cost and time involved in providing continuing education and can be easily integrated in individual working arrangements and daily routines of medical professions. Thus, an online course was devised to familiarise health professionals with different level of education with MI for patients with chronic conditions.

Objective:

The present study reports participants’ opinion on the practicality of MI (as learned in the course) in daily practice, stratified for level of education.

Methods:

Participants (n=607) of the MI-online-training-course could evaluate the courseover 18 months, using a self-administered questionnaire. The online evaluation was analysed descriptively and stratified for level of education (medical student, physicians in specialist training (PST), general practitioners (GPs)).

Results:

Participants rated the applicability of the skills and knowledge gained by the course as positive (medical students: 94% “good”; PST: 89% “excellent”; GPs: 51% “excellent”). Asked whether they envisage the use of MI in the future, 80% of the students stated “to a certain extend”, 89% of the PSTs to “a great extent”, 39% of GPs “to a great extent”. Participants acknowledged an improvement of communication skills like invite (students: 86%, PST: 90%, GPs: 37%) and encourage (students: 81%, PST: 46%, GPs: 27%) patients to talk about behaviour change, and convey respect for patient’s choices (students: 73%, PST: 50%, GPs: 40%).

Conclusions:

Participants confirmed the practicality of MI. However, the extent to which practicality of MI was acknowledged as well as its expected benefits depended on the individual’s level of expertise.