NACDS offers motivational interviewing training to health care professionals

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an effective way for health care professionals to interview and address patient resistance to following prescription regimes and making healthy changes in behaviors and lifestyles.

To help health care professionals, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is making an online MI program available through their website.  

The eight-hour online program, "Comprehensive Motivational Interviewing Training for Health Care Professionals," includes continuing education credits. E-training allows busy health care providers to access the modules and learn at their own pace.

The original motivational training was developed more than 30 years ago by psychologists William Miller and Stephen Rollnick. The e-learning MI program was refined by Bruce Berger and William Villaume, authors of "Motivational Interviewing for Health Care Professionals: A Sensible Approach."

“MI is so effective because we’re not telling patients what to do or scolding them," Berger said. "Instead, we’re exploring what would make them decide to take their medications, lose weight, etc. We explore what they see as the benefits and barriers, and offer new information for them to consider.”

By acknowledging patients' reluctance to change, providers engage patients in a non-judgmental conversation that can encourage positive changes in health behaviors. The interview process can be done in short conversations of two to five minutes, making them less threatening to a reluctant patient.