Motivational interviewing: a novel intervention for translating rehabilitation research into practice

Abstract

Purpose: Despite recent advances in rehabilitation research, moving evidence into clinical practice remains a challenge. This article explores a novel approach to knowledge translation (KT) – motivational interviewing (MI). MI is a style of communication that is typically used to facilitate health related behavior change in patients. Here we explore its potential use as a KT intervention aimed at clinicians. Methods: Commentary. Relevant literature on MI and KT is summarized and discussed by considering how MI could be used in a KT strategy aimed at rehabilitation clinicians. Results: Clinician motivation and readiness to change are key issues influencing implementation of evidence-based practice. We provide an argument suggesting that clinicians’ readiness to change clinical practices can potentially be enhanced through MI. The MI conceptual framework, principles, and strategies, typically used in patients, are discussed here in a novel context – enhancing clinician change in practice. Conclusions: MI is an effective intervention when the goal is to motivate individuals to change a current behavior. We suggest that MI is an evidence-based intervention that has been proven to be effective with patients and warrants study as a promising KT intervention.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Despite recent advances in rehabilitation research, moving evidence into practice remains a challenge.

• Clinician motivation is one key issue influencing the implementation of evidence-based practice.

• Clinician motivation to implement evidence-based practice can potentially be enhanced through an approach called motivational interviewing (MI).

• Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based intervention that has proven to be effective in promoting behavioral change in patients, and warrants study in terms of its potential as a KT intervention.

Keywords::

• Evidence-based practice
• implementation science
• knowledge transfer
• stroke rehabilitation
• translational gap

Declaration of Interest: The first author disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the authorship of this article: Shalini Lal is partially supported by a Knowledge Translation Canada – Strategic Training in Health Research (STIHR) – Fellowship award.