Motivational interviewing with teenagers with diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic condition with a significant impact on short- and long-term health. In adolescence, diabetes management is further complicated by a complex interaction of physical and psychosocial factors which teenagers, parents and healthcare professionals often find difficult to manage. There are few indicators of practical and effective psychosocial interventions; however, motivational interviewing has been shown to be effective in a range of healthcare settings. This article describes the clinical application of ideas developed from two research studies looking at the effectiveness of motivational interviewing with teenagers with diabetes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)