How can motivational interviewing be successfully delivered remotely to families?
How can motivational interviewing be successfully delivered remotely to families?
This study explored how Health Educators adapted a family-based motivational interviewing program from in-person home visits to remote delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified practical strategies to improve virtual counselling.
What We Did and Why We Did It
We conducted a qualitative study with three Health Educators from the Guelph Family Health Study who transitioned motivational interviewing (MI) sessions for 21 families with young children from in-person home visits to phone or video appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their experiences were discussed in a focus group and analyzed to identify common themes and lessons learned.
The COVID-19 pandemic required many healthcare services to rapidly shift from in-person to remote care. While motivational interviewing is an effective counselling approach, little was known about how to successfully deliver it virtually to families with young children. Understanding what worked well and what challenges arose can help improve remote health counselling in the future.
What We Found
What We Can Learn From This
Remote motivational interviewing was well accepted by families, particularly when delivered by video rather than phone. Video visits made it easier to build rapport, engage children, and encourage meaningful conversations. Health Educators found that providing technical support, being flexible with scheduling, checking in more frequently, and asking open-ended, reflective questions helped strengthen remote counselling. Families appreciated the convenience and continued support during a challenging time.
Remote motivational interviewing can be an effective way to support healthy behaviour change in families when in-person visits are not possible. Using video platforms, providing clear technology instructions, involving children in discussions, and maintaining strong communication can help healthcare providers build meaningful connections and deliver successful virtual counselling.
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