Motivating residents to change communication: the role of a brief motivational interviewing didactic

INTRODUCTION: Motivational interviewing (MI) is a patient-centered approach that encourages patients to change behaviors. MI training programs have increased residents’ knowledge and use of MI skills; however, many residency programs may not have the time to dedicate to lengthy MI programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of a brief MI didactic for residents in an academic internal medicine patient-centered medical home. METHODS: Thirty-two residents completed a 1-h MI training between October 2016 and June 2017 and completed measures on their knowledge of, confidence using, and utilization of MI skills prior to the training, immediately after the training, and at a 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: The residents’ knowledge of and confidence using MI skills increased from pre-test to post-test and also increased from pre-test to the 1-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: The utilization of MI skills increased from pre-test to the 1-month follow-up. A 1-h didactic offers benefits to residents.