Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), and Motivational Interviewing for PGY-1 Medical Residents

Abstract

Background Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for alcohol use in primary care—often using motivational interviewing (MI)—is an effective preventive service. Medical residency programs have begun offering training in these areas, but little research has been conducted to examine the impact of SBIRT/MI training length on residents' satisfaction, affect, and behavioral intentions. Objective We measured residents' satisfaction with their training in addition to variables shown in previous research to predict medical professionals' intention to perform SBIRT. Methods This study focused on 2 SBIRT/MI training structures: a 4- to 6-hour training using didactic, experiential, and interactive methods and a brief 1-hour session explaining the same principles in a noninteractive format. Immediately following each training intervention, participating residents from internal medicine (IM), pediatrics (PEDS), medicine-pediatrics (IM-PEDS), and emergency medicine (EM) programs completed a 22-item instrument derived from established questionnaires; responses to each item were dichotomized, and comparisons were conducted between the training groups using Fisher exact test. Results Of 80 participating residents, 59 IM, PEDS, and IM-PEDS residents completed the longer training, and 21 EM residents completed the shorter training. All participating residents reported high levels of satisfaction, although EM residents were comparatively less satisfied with their shorter training session. Conclusions Both SBIRT/MI training structures were feasible and were accepted by learners, although the 2 groups' perceptions of the training differed. Future research into the underlying causes of these differences may be useful to the application of SBIRT/MI training during residency.

The Status of SBIRT Training in Health Professions Education: A Cross-Discipline Review and Evaluation of SBIRT Curricula and Educational Research

“…Only 3 studies (4%) provided information suggesting that trainers had recognized or established credentials in screening and brief intervention or in MI (e.g., more than introductory training before the start of the SBIRT curriculum). 43,44,88,131 Similarly, 10 (12%) studies reported the trainers' profession 43,44,[59][60][61]63,67,88,111,117,123,124,132,135 and 6 (7%) indicated trainer level of education. 43,44,[59][60][61]71,88,117,132 Design and measurement rigor On average, studies included in this review had a mean study design score of 1.92 (SD = 0.84; Table 3) and mean measurement score of 1.89 (SD = 1.05; Table 4).…”

“…43,44,88,131 Similarly, 10 (12%) studies reported the trainers' profession 43,44,[59][60][61]63,67,88,111,117,123,124,132,135 and 6 (7%) indicated trainer level of education. 43,44,[59][60][61]71,88,117,132 Design and measurement rigor On average, studies included in this review had a mean study design score of 1.92 (SD = 0.84; Table 3) and mean measurement score of 1.89 (SD = 1.05; Table 4). These rigor scores were similar across most of the health professions' training programs, and only 8 (10%) studies had a design score of 3 or higher.…”

Joining the Fight: Enhancing Alcohol Treatment Education in Hepatology

“…A 2014 study compared intensive one-time 4-to 6-hour training sessions using multimedia and role play review delivered to internal medicine and pediatric trainees against a 1-hour didactic lecture given to emergency medicine trainees. 19 Both interventions were delivered by a licensed social worker certified for training in motivational interviewing. The more intensive training had higher satisfaction rates, although both groups were equally very likely to perform alcohol-related interventions as a result.…”

The Effects of Screening Brief Intervention Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Training on Health Professional Trainees’ Regard, Attitudes, and Beliefs toward Patients who use Substances

“…Consistent with the notion that a variety of health care practitioners should be prepared to intervene with patients who engage in risky use of substances, there has been increased funding to support SBIRT training with an expanding number of student programs including medical schools 16 – 18 and multiple medical residency programs 19 – 31 . Increasingly, SBIRT programs have also provided training for students studying to be social workers, pychologists, physician assistants, nurses at the baccalaureate and doctorate of nursing practice level, and physical therapists, along with students in other health professional programs 31 – 39 .…”