Motivational Interviewing in Interprofessional Education: Unlocking the Power of Collaboration

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative communication style used in various healthcare settings to strengthen a patient’s motivation and commitment to change. MI strategies are often incorporated into higher education training programs across healthcare disciplines, making the topic ideal for learning in an interprofessional format. As an evidence-informed practice, students from all health professions benefit from gaining these communication skills to optimize patient outcomes and enhance interpersonal communication. The purpose of this paper is to describe effective MI training practices and identify strategies for teaching MI in an interprofessional format that aligns with the Interprofessional Collaborative Core Competencies (IPEC). The collaborative nature of interprofessional education with its emphasis on communication, teamwork, and psychological safety offers an ideal learning environment to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of MI training. Suggestions are provided for integrating MI into interprofessional classrooms and clinical curriculum.