“I Feel Like It Should Be a Big Part of Our Training”: Feasibility and Perceptions of a Motivational Interviewing Training for Community Health Workers

Abstract

Use of community health workers (CHWs) has increased in recent years, with many being tasked with providing motivational interviewing (MI). However, little research exists regarding ideal means of training CHWs in MI. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the feasibility and perceptions of a CHW-focused MI training. This feasibility study employed a single-arm pre–post design, with a convenience sample of n = 24 Oklahoma-based CHWs. For MI training, four online asynchronous modules and one in-person session were developed and delivered by a graduate student competent in MI in collaboration with a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and per corresponding recommendations. The following indicators of feasibility were assessed via both pre–post surveys and semi-structured interviews: acceptability, demand, implementation, limited efficacy, and Practicality. Among responding CHWs, both the training and delivery of MI by CHWs as a whole were deemed feasible, including acceptability (e.g., 93% of respondents reported as “Excellent” or “Very Good”), demand (e.g., increase in actual MI use), implementation (e.g., exceeded recruitment goal), limited efficacy (e.g., some increases in knowledge), and practicality (e.g., delivery of MI training in existing systems, yet consistent with existing literature). Primary challenges included completion of data collection procedures and perceptions of overwhelm. These data indicate training CHWs in MI is feasible and in high demand, but there are important considerations, including minimizing data collection burden, delivering training in smaller intervals over longer periods of time, providing more opportunities for practice, and evaluating context-specific opportunities for feedback and coaching to achieve proficiency.