How ‘Motivational Interviewing’ Can Boost Patient Engagement, Health

Motivational interviewing may be the key to boosting patient engagement and positive health outcomes, says a new study published June 25.

Motivational interviewing, a counseling tactic in healthcare, psychology and social work, is used for patients who need to make behavioral changes, such as quitting smoking or losing weight.

The HealthSciences Institute, a major chronic care and motivational interviewing health coaching training, certification and quality improvement organization, completed a study in conjunction with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan that showed a significant relationship between member enrollment rates in health coaching programs at BCBSM and the overall skill set of health coach nurses in motivational interviewing.

The HealthSciences Institute measured nurses undergoing the training, and as a result of the training, the nurses improved their motivational interviewing skills by 46 percent over the course of 2011, according to the study.

Motivational interviewing has the potential to not only improve patients’ health and wellness but to cut costs throughout the U.S. healthcare system. According to the Population Health Improvement Learning Collaborative, 85 percent of avoidable costs in healthcare are due to behavioral and not medical factors. More than 300 clinical trials have shown that brief health coaching approaches deliver better patient-level results

The HealthSciences study, which is believed to be the first of its kind, provides insight as to how a health plan can motivate individuals to make positive lifestyle changes to improve their health.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan health coach nurses participated in a rigorous training program aimed at more effectively helping Blue Cross members with chronic conditions and unhealthy behaviors to understand the benefits of changing to a healthier lifestyle.

As part of the program, all BCBSM nurses and health coaches completed a 40-hour online course in chronic care and health coaching as well as participated in onsite immersion training in motivational interviewing. Nurses and health coaches also partook in monthly phone-based team case review sessions to help develop motivational interviewing skills. In addition, participants received feedback on a quarterly basis to help monitor their progress.

"We are committed to having a top-notch health coach counseling program and this is one way we are finding more effective ways to engage individuals in making positive lifestyle changes,” Ann Baker, senior director of wellness, care management, and health promotion at BCBSM, said in a statement.

The HealthSciences study looked at health coach performance assessments to measure return on investment by tracking the value of health coaching services delivered to their customers.

"This program raises the bar for health coaching by all health plans,” Dr. Blake Andersen, CEO, HealthSciences Institute, said in a statement.