Abstract
Purpose: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, patient-centered counseling approach for eliciting behavior change. In 2012, the University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Program significantly enhanced their behavior change curriculum by reinforcing and building upon the Motivational Interviewing segment. The purpose of this study was to examine students' perceptions of the importance of MI and their confidence in applying it during patient care.
Methods: A convenience sample of 22 U-M Class of 2015 dental hygiene students who had received an enhanced curriculum participated in this study, utilizing a retrospective, pre-test/post-test design.
Results: A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the differences in average ranks between T1 (Retrospective Pre-Test) and T4 (Post-Test 3) for the importance and confidence questions at each time point for the Class of 2015. Students' perceptions of importance increased with statistical significance in five out of eight MI strategies. Perceptions in confidence increased in seven out of eight strategies. Effect size ranged from .00 to .55. Assessment of qualitative data provided additional insight on student experiences.
Conclusion: Student perceptions of importance of using MI and their confidence in applying MI increased in a majority of the strategy categories. Successes with patient health behavior change and challenges with time to integrate this in practice were noted. Research on the longitudinal impact and faculty feedback calibration is recommended.
Footnotes
Angela Mills, RDH, BSDH, MS, is a 2014 graduate of the Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Program, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, and an adjunct faculty member at Oakland Community College, Highland Lakes, MI.
Wendy E. Kerschbaum, RDH, MA, MPH, is an Associate Professor Emerita; Philip S. Richards, DDS, MS, is a Clinical Professor; Janet S. Kinney RDH, MS, is Director of Dental Hygiene and a Clinical Associate Professor; and Anne E. Gwozdek, RDH, BA, MA, is a retired Clinical Assistant Professor; all in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI. Gail A. Czarnecki, DDS, is a pediatric dentist in private practice in Arlington Heights, IL.
This manuscript supports the NDHRA priority area, Client level: Oral Health Care (new therapies and modalities).
- Copyright © 2017 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
