Conference 2020 | Motivational Interviewing

Patient decisions about changing health-related behaviors are complicated. Research indicates that passively receiving medical information and advice alone does not result in lasting behavior change. Furthermore, health professionals become frustrated when patients respond with resistance or apathy and do not make healthy choices. What reduces patient resistance and increases the chance of positive outcomes? Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based communication style that has been shown to have a dramatic effect on patient outcomes. MI creates a partnership between health professionals and their patients, enabling them to work together as “co-experts” towards shared goals.