Virtual Synchronous Motivational Interviewing Training for Geographically Dispersed Interprofessional Learners

Abstract

Introduction: Behavioral health and other preventable factors account for nearly half of all premature deaths in the United States. Motivational interviewing (MI) is effective for engaging ambivalent patients in behavior change. However, many clinicians report barriers to receiving MI training, including time, cost, and travel. This study examined the effect of a 2-day virtual MI training built around didactic and real-play learning activities. Methods: Thirty interprofessional clinicians from eight Veterans Affairs medical centers and their community-based outpatient clinics across 4 US states attended a 2-day virtual MI training. Participants completed a posttraining evaluation and a 3-month posttraining evaluation. Results: Participants reported that they learned new knowledge and skills, and they would be able to apply these to their practice (M > 4).They reported high satisfaction with the training and platform and found the technology easy to use (M > 4). In the 3-month posttraining survey, participants reported that they were using MI in their practice (M = 4.19) and that they would like additional support, such as additional reading (n = 8). Discussion: This study demonstrates the effect of a 2-day virtual MI training built around didactic and real-play learning activities. Virtual training particularly enhances training opportunities in rural settings. Our training removed travel and payment as barriers to participation.

Meeting the Immediate Needs of Health Care Practitioners and Building the Evidence for Continuing Professional Development

“…Rather than be seduced by high-cost high fidelity approaches, the authors emphasize that it is the match between learning objectives and fidelity that is important in achieving learner engagement and effective procedural training. Bryan et al's 11 short report engages technologically mediated interprofessional CPD delivery in the form of virtual synchronous motivational interviewing training for geographically dispersed interprofessional learners to increase their knowledge and skills to stimulate positive patient behavior change. Their CPD intervention is designed to overcome the myriad of barriers to learner access and engagement and is directly relevant to meeting the need for effective CPD in both pandemic and postpandemic conditions.…”

Health Professionals can Sustain Proficiency in Motivational Interviewing With a Moderate Amount of Training: An Intervention Fidelity Study

“…The first group training session (equivalent to 12 hours) was conducted in person; however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic a second group training was completed through the Zoom video-conferencing platform (there were 4-8 people in each group). The group training consisted of interactive learning activities designed to introduce clinicians to the spirit, principles, and skills of MI, followed by real-play sessions 1,16 to encourage experiential learning. Each motivational interviewer then received remote personalized coaching before participating in the trial, typically distributed over 3 to 5 hours.…”