Comparison of Patient Versus Trained Observer Assessments of Healthcare Providers’ Use of Motivational Interviewing Techniques for Patients Experiencing Depression and Anxiety in the Dominican Republic

In settings with limited mental health system capacity, integrated care and the improvement of patient-provider communication surrounding common mental disorders is critical to advancing treatment outcomes. We trained primary care providers in the Dominican Republic in motivational interviewing (MI) to improve communication with patients experiencing depression and anxiety. Providers were randomized to an intervention group, which received MI training, or a control group. To evaluate the training’s effectiveness, patients assessed their clinical encounters using the Motivational Interviewing Measure of Staff Interaction (MIMSI). Trained research assistants (RAs) rated a sub-set of those interactions using an adapted MIMSI instrument. Overall, patients (n = 36) perceived their interactions with providers (n = 10) very positively; however, the RAs’ ratings strongly indicated that providers’ application of MI behaviors was insufficient. Patients generally could not distinguish between intervention and control providers. Findings underscore the need to carefully consider optimal training delivery and cultural influences surrounding the implementation of MI mental health interventions in settings where directive communication is highly valued.