Social Science and Dentistry

cover art

Cover Date:
June 2014
Print ISSN:
2040-4263
Vol:
3
Issue:
1

Challenges in testing fidelity in Motivational Interviewing oral health interventions

Objective: Motivational Interviewing (MI), a counselling technique designed to stimulate a client’s inner will to change, is based on four principles: empathy, developing discrepancy between current and an alternate behaviour, reinforcing self-efficacy and rolling with resistance to change. The most important component of MI is thought to be the MI ‘spirit’ which is concerned with enhancing client collaboration as well a client’s autonomy. Despite evidence of efficacy and increasing use of MI in a range of oral health settings, little attention has been paid to documenting the integrity of MI delivery (fidelity). This paper aims to explore the challenges associated with the assessment of MI fidelity. Methods: A summary of challenges associated with MI fidelity assessment in health intervention contexts will be provided; encompassing topics such as budgetary constraints, time constraints and expertise constraints. The importance of becoming familiar with the tools available to assess MI fidelity will be discussed as well as the various consortiums available through which to communicate with experts in the MI fidelity field. Results: The challenges to conducting appropriate fidelity assessment for oral health interventions involving MI are many and varied. However, if evidence regarding the utility of MI interventions in oral health practice is to be translated to policy, the clinical setting, teaching and research, there is a responsibility among all those involved in MI oral health interventions to responsibly consider fidelity assessment as a critical part in the research process. Conclusions: There is an opportunity for communication among oral health researchers with an interest in MI to explore pathways through which barriers in fidelity assessment in MI-based interventions may be overcome.

Key words: Motivational Interviewing, oral health, oral health interventions

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
14
Page End
16
Authors
T Newton, L M Jamieson

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial
  2. 1
  3. 1

  1. The use of Motivational Interviewing in oral health interventions; overview
  2. 2
  3. 4

  1. Assessing fidelity in Motivational Interviewing interventions; an overview
  2. 5
  3. 9

  1. Testing fidelity in Motivational Interviewing oral health interventions: an example
  2. 10
  3. 13

  1. Challenges in testing fidelity in Motivational Interviewing oral health interventions
  2. 14
  3. 16

  1. An ethical dilemma: our current understanding of prevention in primary dental care. A qualitative study
  2. 17
  3. 26

  1. Beyond social determinants: a neo-Marxist approach to understanding the causes of the social determinants of inequalities in oral health
  2. 27
  3. 33