Testing a modified motivational interviewing counseling program

Background: Motivational Interviewing is a well -established person -centered counseling approach toward positive behavioral change. However, several limitations have been reported using motivational interviewing applications. Purpose: This study explored the potential of an innovative intervention (namely, modified motivational interviewing) to address the limitations associated with the original form of Motivational Interviewing. Methods: The research used a phenomenological qualitative design to include three focus groups with a total sample size of 24 university nursing students to examine their experiences with the Modified Motivational Interviewing. The focus groups were transcribed verbatim and then coded to extract the themes. Results: The following ten themes emerged from the data analysis: increasing discrepancy; ambivalence; ready, willing, and able; change as a natural process; the role of the modified motivational interviewing facilitator; spontaneous generalization; peer support facilitates change; help -seeking behavior; practical applications of the modified motivational interviewing; and problems encountered during the implementation of modified motivational interviewing. Conclusions: The proposed intervention can potentially be a cost-effective replacement for the original format of motivational interviewing intervention. Further research is needed to support the modified motivational interviewing.