Strengthening motivational interviewing skills following initial training: A randomised trial of workplace-based reflective practice

Aim: The study assesses whether a workplace-based educational intervention helps professionals who had trained in Motivational Interviewing (MI) become more competent in it. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Participants: Professionals in health and social services in Dorset, UK, who had received training in MI (n=54). Intervention: (a) Control: Update day in MI (b) THEME (Twelve Hours to Enhance Motivational Effectiveness): Update day plus 12 weekly worksheets to stimulate reflection on practice of MI, feedback to audiotaped sessions with clients, and three 30 minute sessions of telephone coaching. Measurements: Degree of competence in MI, as assessed from videotapes of interviews with simulated patients, carried out at entry to the study and 4 months later. Each videotape was coded independently by two trained coders using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) system. Findings: Of the 44 participants who completed the second assessment, those in THEME showed significantly (p<0.05) greater increases in the Spirit of MI and overall competence in MI. Conclusions: Workplace based interventions may enhance the effectiveness of brief training in MI and other psychological therapies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)