Motivational Interviewing
About Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Introduction to MI
The Research
MI Workshops for Advanced Personal Trainers (Exercise and Eating Behaviour)
NICE Guidelines on Effective Behaviour Change
Tailored MI Training from HFI
Introduction to MI
Research suggests that much is known about the effectiveness of communication styles when it comes to behaviour change. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a communication method that has a solid base of high quality research to support its effectiveness.
It is the spirit of the communication style of MI that is important. Not addressing the effectiveness of the communication style could lead health professionals to being ineffective on client behaviour change. In many cases professionals risk actually having a de-motivating affect on clients.
Research suggests that health or fitness specialists with no other formal communication or counselling skills training can learn MI effectively and as a result become much more effective in what they do. There is even some evidence to suggest that professionals without other training and qualifications in psychology or ‘counselling’ can be taught MI more readily than more experienced ‘counsellors’. The fitness industry has never taken MI on in a way that will lead to different client outcomes. The main reason for this may be that MI is a technique that requires proper training by an appropriately qualified MI trainer. It also requires a certain amount of on-going quality control. The NHS has taken MI on board more readily, which may be due to the NHS being more seriously answerable to the effectiveness of its services.
HFI have appropriately qualified MI Trainers who are members of MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers). The HFI Exercise Motivator and the HFI Eating Behaviour Motivator workshops tackle the behaviour-change challenges faced by personal trainers using Motivational Interviewing. Tailored in-company workshops are available for health and fitness companies as well as a variety of other health sectors and industries.
HFI have worked with the following bodies, all of which have found staff training in MI an effective means towards improving desired client behaviour-change outcomes and have therefore seen improved effectiveness of their services:
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Clinical cardiac rehabilitation (exercise/physical activity, smoking, stress)
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Health club sales and retention (club use, eating behaviour, smoking, alcohol)
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Personal trainer sales and retention (attending sessions, eating behaviour, smoking, alcohol)
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GPs (various health topics)
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Physiotherapists (performing rehab exercises)
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Elite sports trainers and coaches (carrying out ‘less enjoyable’ training or rehab)
NICE guidelines call for effective behaviour change in health fitness industries.
The NICE guidelines reflect that It is now widely accepted in academia and research that this area should no longer be left to chance in professions where maximal behaviour change is the desired outcome.
Current National Institute of Clinical Excellence (October 2007) guidelines on effective behaviour change state that:
i) Current training and education in this area should be reviewed, and to disinvest in approaches that lack supporting evidence.
ii) It should be ensured that all practitioners and volunteers have fair and equal access to training and support.
iii) Relevant national organisations should consider developing standards for these skills.
MI and personal training
Personal Training is a relatively new profession and subsequently the ‘qualifications’ at all levels are focussed on ‘professional knowledge’ and not on client motivation. Motivational Interviewing will set a personal trainer apart from the rest of the industry when all the basic levels of qualification are obtained.
Personal trainers, dieticians and other health professionals are presented with clients and patients concerned with their weight. MI is the perfect approach for this area. Professional knowledge is less than half the way to success. As a personal trainer, you cannot leave this most valuable of skills to develop on its own or just ‘evolve from experience’ – because it won’t!
MI and the NHS
NHS Trusts take guidance from NICE and are therefore becoming more and more interested in MI and the affect professionals can have on client behaviour. With training budgets being cut there is always a need for increased value for money, which must translate into client behaviour outcomes and cost saving in the long term. MI has always been in demand but more recently has experienced a surge in popularity. Areas where NHS training is sought from HFI are of course physical activity and clinical exercise (cardiac rehabilitation), but also:
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Weight management
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GP services
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Smoking cessation
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Alcohol treatment programmes
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Clinical exercise
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Mental health
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Dental health
Tailored Training
Each organisation is different and HFI will work with you and your team of health experts to develop the most effective training programme.
For more information about MI training for your organisation contact HFI
More general information about what is Motivational Interviewing (and what it is not) by Steve Rollnick and Bill Miller