Professionalizing Care Workers: Outcomes of a ‘Motivational Interviewing’ Training in Residential Youth Care

Abstract

Behavioral change in adolescents is often an important aim of residential youth care, but difficult to achieve. Care workers can increase the intrinsic motivation of adolescents to change their behavior by applying Motivational Interviewing (MI). The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a difference in workers' performance vis-à-vis adolescents before and after an MI training course. To measure this difference, we coded transcripts of audio recordings of one-on-one conversations between adolescents and workers, using the MITI 4.2.1 and MISC 2.5. We compared the transcripts made before the MI training course with the transcripts made after the training course. The results show that the 13 workers made significantly more use of MI adherent behaviors after the training course. Moreover, a trend toward using fewer MI non-adherent behaviors after the training was observed. The results suggest that workers are able to evoke more 'change talk' with adolescents after a training course. In conclusion, after attending a training course, workers are able to engage in conversations that are more in line with the MI-spirit. However, these are still not "real" MI conversations yet. We recommend to train workers more intensively in how to apply MI.

Organizational social context and psychopathology of youth in residential care: The intervening role of youth–caregiver relationship quality

“…The quality of youth-caregiver relationships in the context of residential care is especially important given youth's often highly adverse precare experiences, their need to establish secure bonds with the front-line staff, and their susceptibility to develop mental health difficulties (Assouline & Attar-Schwartz, 2020;Greger et al, 2016). Thus, the development of highquality residential youth care services must also include continuous training and supervision of residential caregivers (Eenshuistra et al, 2019(Eenshuistra et al, , 2021, focused on the quality of their relationships with the youth in care, contemplating its multiple dimensions, such as affection, reliable alliance, enhancement of worth, intimacy, instrumental help, companionship, and nurturance.…”

Elaboration and refinement of a motivational communication training program for healthcare professionals in pediatric oncology: a feasibility and acceptability study

“…As a point of comparison, we found a randomized trial evaluating the outcome of an MI training for practitioners working in adolescent substance abuse (Mitcheson et al, 2009 ). Other studies have assessed the implementation of MI training programs in nursing students, and the training of healthcare providers and counselors in the use of MI for youth behavior change (Eenshuistra et al, 2020 ; Seigart et al, 2018 ; Vallabhan et al, 2017 ).…”

“…embracing MI style and way of being). On the other hand, Eenshuistra et al ( 2020 ) revealed that counselors intervening in residential youth care adhered significantly more to MI behaviors after the training they received. The authors observed that they used fewer behaviors not adhering to MI after training.…”

“…The authors observed that they used fewer behaviors not adhering to MI after training. Some MI competency requirements were however not met such as the ratio of reflections made to questions asked (Eenshuistra et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Evaluation studies of these programs systematically support training effects for all MI skills, despite variations in training structure, outcome measures, and the quality of studies (Barwick et al, 2012 ). The research evaluating training programs for professionals applying motivational strategies to pediatric populations have focused on adolescent health, particularly substance abuse (Eenshuistra, Harder, & Knorth, 2020 ; Mitcheson, Bhavsar, & McCambridge, 2009 ; Seigart, Veltman, Willhaus, & Letterle, 2018 ; Vallabhan et al, 2017 ).…”