Randomized, Controlled Evaluation of a Virtual Human Patient for Provider Training in Motivational Interviewing
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Motivational Interviewing
- Sponsor
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System
- Enrollment
- 126
- Primary Endpoint
- Difference in Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity 4.2.1 between the conditions
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 5 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of training with a virtual standardized patient on the acquisition and maintenance of motivational interviewing skills compared with traditional academic study.
Detailed Description
Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based counseling approach that aims to increase a patient's motivation to make positive health changes in their lives. A common training method for medical professionals is the use of human standardized patients, who are actors who pretend to be patients for educational interviews. Standardized patients are expensive and it is challenging to maintain an adequate pool of patient actors. Accordingly, after licensure or medical boards, health professionals typically adopt new evidence-based practices, like motivational interviewing, without human standardized patient training experiences. Given the established importance of post-training coaching and feedback to the acquisition of motivational interviewing, innovative training methods are needed. Computer virtual patients may provide a cost-effective alternative that is scalable and supports dissemination of evidence-based practices. This study will evaluate the efficacy of a virtual standardized patient, relative to academic study, for training motivational interviewing among health care professionals from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense.
Investigators
Greg Reger
Deputy Associate Chief of Staff
VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •All health care staff (e.g., physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists) from supporting service lines are eligible to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria
- •8 hours or more of formal training in MI in the year prior to baseline assessment.
- •Successfully completed participation in the VA Evidence Based Practice roll-out of MI.
- •Served as MI trainers or have conducted research on MI at any time
- •Do not anticipate being available for the full duration of the training study (according to their verbal self-report)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Difference in Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity 4.2.1 between the conditions
Time Frame: Change in Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity 4.2.1 from post-training [approximately 2-weeks after baseline] to 3-month follow-up training [approximately 3.5-months after baseline]
The Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity 4.2.1 is a behavioral coding system for motivational interviewing (MI) skill that involves observer ratings of 4 items on a 5-point Likert-type scale and behavior counts. The 5-point scores for Cultivating Change Talk and Softening Sustain Talk are averaged for a Technical Global summary score, and 5-point scores for Partnership and Empathy are averaged for a Relational Global summary score. Behavior counts include simple reflections, complex reflections and questions posed to patients. These behavior counts generate 2 summary scores; the percentage of reflections that are complex reflections and the ratio of reflections to questions. Participants are also categorized as meeting 'fair' and 'good' MI skill proficiency cut points for each of the 4 summary scores.
Secondary Outcomes
- Difference in Helpful Responses Questionnaire between the conditions(Change in Helpful Responses Questionnaire from post-training [approximately 2-weeks after baseline] to 3-month follow-up training [approximately 3.5-months after baseline])
- Difference in Motivational Knowledge Test-Revised between the conditions(Change in Motivational Knowledge Test-Revised from post-training [approximately 2-weeks after baseline] to 3-month follow-up training [approximately 3.5-months after baseline])
- Difference in Motivational Interviewing Knowledge and Attitudes Test between the conditions(Change in Motivational Interviewing Knowledge and Attitudes Test from post-training [approximately 2-weeks after baseline] to 3-month follow-up training [approximately 3.5-months after baseline])
- Difference in Motivational Interviewing Self-efficacy Scale between the conditions(Change in Motivational Interviewing Self-efficacy Scale from post-training [approximately 2-weeks after baseline] to 3-month follow-up training [approximately 3.5-months after baseline])
- Difference in Provider Knowledge, Skills, and Confidence Survey between the conditions(Change in Provider Knowledge, Skills, and Confidence Survey from post-training [approximately 2-weeks after baseline] to 3-month follow-up training [approximately 3.5-months after baseline])
- Difference in Provider Training Satisfaction Survey between the conditions(Post-training [approximately 2-weeks after baseline])