TY - JOUR
T1 - A feasibility study of teaching motivational interviewing in a fully online environment using a virtual client
AU - Oster, Candice
AU - Leibbrandt, Richard
AU - Schoo, Adrian
AU - Lange, Belinda
AU - Litt, John
AU - Morello, Andrea
AU - Antonello, Christopher
AU - Powers, David
AU - Maeder, Anthony
AU - Lawn, Sharon
PY - 2022/3/6
Y1 - 2022/3/6
N2 - Supporting behaviour change is important in health promotion and disease prevention. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a core behaviour change counselling skill for health professionals to support people to make and maintain behaviour changes. MI is taught across many university courses and as continuing professional development. There is a need to provide repeatable MI training for health professionals and students that is accessible, affordable, and standardised and allows practise opportunities. This study tested the feasibility of asynchronous online MI training and using a virtual client interaction for practising MI skills. Postgraduate students (n = 22) from university health courses participated in the study. Participants completed questionnaires and interacted with a virtual client prior to and post-online training. Outcomes included MI skills (analysed using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) code, version 4.2.1), attitudes towards behaviour change counselling, and acceptability of the online course. System usability of the virtual client interaction was evaluated using the System Usability Scale. There was a statistically significant improvement in both Relational and Technical MITI Scores, and in attitudes towards behaviour change counselling, from Pre-Course to Post-Course. Participants viewed the online course positively. System usability scored in the 90–95 percentile range. Results support the feasibility of providing MI training online and using virtual clients to facilitate the process. Further research is needed on the transferability of MI skills learned online to real world settings.
AB - Supporting behaviour change is important in health promotion and disease prevention. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a core behaviour change counselling skill for health professionals to support people to make and maintain behaviour changes. MI is taught across many university courses and as continuing professional development. There is a need to provide repeatable MI training for health professionals and students that is accessible, affordable, and standardised and allows practise opportunities. This study tested the feasibility of asynchronous online MI training and using a virtual client interaction for practising MI skills. Postgraduate students (n = 22) from university health courses participated in the study. Participants completed questionnaires and interacted with a virtual client prior to and post-online training. Outcomes included MI skills (analysed using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) code, version 4.2.1), attitudes towards behaviour change counselling, and acceptability of the online course. System usability of the virtual client interaction was evaluated using the System Usability Scale. There was a statistically significant improvement in both Relational and Technical MITI Scores, and in attitudes towards behaviour change counselling, from Pre-Course to Post-Course. Participants viewed the online course positively. System usability scored in the 90–95 percentile range. Results support the feasibility of providing MI training online and using virtual clients to facilitate the process. Further research is needed on the transferability of MI skills learned online to real world settings.
KW - Behaviour change
KW - Health professional education
KW - Motivational Interviewing
KW - online learning
KW - virtual client
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126137211&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14635240.2022.2047095
DO - 10.1080/14635240.2022.2047095
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85126137211
SN - 1463-5240
JO - International Journal of Health Promotion and Education
JF - International Journal of Health Promotion and Education
ER -