Motivational Interviewing in Health Care: Helping Patients Change Behavior [Paperback]

"Many of today's leading causes of death are significantly related to modifiable health behaviors. This book provides a critical approach for helping patients change their behavior. Motivational interviewing (MI) provides a new alternative to the outdated direct persuasion approach, bringing a breath of fresh air to the conversation between health care providers and those with chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity. Practical examples and exercises make this book a powerful tool for use in educating medical students, nurses, and other health care professionals about encouraging patients to make healthy choices."--Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD, Executive Director, Penn State Hershey Diabetes and Obesity Institute

"This practical guide moves motivational interviewing (MI) into the realm of everyday health care practice. Specifically, the book addresses the 'why' and the 'how-to' aspects of having conversations about behavior change. It helps clinicians learn to hear what their patients are really saying, and how to guide them through resolving ambivalence about behaviors. Relevant examples from various fields of medicine are provided. The chapter featuring extended examples of how to integrate MI into everyday interactions is particularly helpful. I see this as a useful resource for physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other clinicians, as well as clinician educators involved in training students and residents."--Carol R. Schermer, MD, MPH, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Loyola University Medical Center

"Packed with practical pearls of wisdom for guiding patients in the process of changing many types of unhealthy behaviors, this easy-to-read book is a gift to all health care providers. The authors use real-life cases and believable dialogue to illustrate how to use listening skills to elicit the patient's perspective and build toward change. Too many of us in health care get discouraged and give up hope too soon when patients are not compliant with our advice, when we really should be trying a different way to approach the issues. This book's 'can-do' and 'no-blame' orientation helps the busy clinician regain satisfaction in relationships with patients and become more effective in facilitating change."--Edward Bernstein, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine; Director, Brief Negotiated Interview and Appropriate Referral to Treatment (BNI-ART) Institute, Boston University School of Public Health

"The authors highlight the underpinnings of effective communication and demonstrate how the spirit, philosophy, and principles of MI can actually enhance patient-provider relationships. This book is a 'must read' for health care practitioners across disciplines, from novice clinicians searching for practical advice to expert providers seeking professional refueling. Faculty will find this book invaluable for teaching future health care providers, as the information on MI is evidence based and the case examples are drawn from real-world clinical experiences. In today's fast-paced health care industry, providers may feel daunted by encroaching technology or hamstrung by requisite documentation. Therefore, enjoying meaningful interactions with patients becomes even more of a challenge. Fortunately, MI can help providers connect with their patients. After reading this book, one cannot help but feel empowered to change behavior."--Pam Burke, PhD, RN, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital

"I highly recommend this book for any practitioner dealing in health behavior change. In a conversational style with numerous helpful examples, the authors translate complex psychological concepts into easy-to-understand terms that will support and guide health care practitioners in improving their consultations with patients. The book is also a 'must' for undergraduates and graduate students who are interested in motivational interviewing within the world of health care practice."--Judith Carpenter, registered dietitian, Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust, UK

Much of health care today involves helping patients manage conditions whose outcomes can be greatly influenced by lifestyle or behavior change. Written specifically for health care professionals, this concise book presents powerful tools to enhance communication with patients and guide them in making choices to improve their health, from weight loss, exercise, and smoking cessation, to medication adherence and safer sex practices. Engaging dialogues and vignettes bring to life the core skills of motivational interviewing (MI) and show how to incorporate this brief evidence-based approach into any health care setting. Appendices include MI training resources and publications on specific medical conditions.

This book is in the Applications of Motivational Interviewing series.