Motivational interviewing (MI) is a communication style and technique that clinicians can leverage to strengthen a patient’s own motivation and commitment to change. Through motivational interviewing, clinicians can develop a stronger rapport with patients and address barriers to their engagement.

Motivational interviewing can help clinicians engage patients by asking questions in a way that puts patients at ease and responding in a way that makes patients feel accepted, not judged.

There are four fundamental processes of motivational interviewing, described below. Clinicians do not need to follow them processes sequentially. Effective motivational interviewers often move between the processes as needed to help the patient make healthy changes.

Typically, providers who work with patients on behavior change, such as case managers, social workers, and therapists complete MI training. However, every frontline clinician in any care setting can improve their conversations with patients by learning MI.

MI skills help frontline clinicians empathize and better understand patients’ concerns, which in turn can help patients become more invested in their care.

It can take years of training and practice to become fully skilled in all four processes of MI. Organizations interested in having care team members learn comprehensive MI techniques can visit the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) website to learn more.

One effective and frequently used framework to engage patients through motivational interviewing is called OARS. OARS is an acronym for four key interviewing skills: asking Open Questions, reinforcing responses with Affirmations, Reflective Listening, and Summarizing patients’ perspectives.