Module 3: Motivational Interviewing Techniques
Welcome to Module 3! In this session, we’ll explore Motivational Interviewing (MI) — a patient-centered approach that brings the GPS method to life. If GPS is the roadmap to behavior change, MI is the vehicle that helps patients navigate the journey. Through collaborative, meaningful conversations, MI empowers patients to set goals, plan actions, and stay on track. Let’s dive into how this approach can make your patient interactions more effective and impactful.
Module Content
- Knowledge Boost – Video lecture: Basics of Motivation Interviewing
- Hands-On Activity – Role Plays
- Survey – did the MI lecture and prep improve your confidence in patient role plays?
- Video lecture: Basics of Motivational Interviewing
Video lecture: Basics of Motivational Interviewing
Hands-on Activity – Role Plays Instructions
Set up the role play
Now it’s time to put your learning into practice with realistic role plays. Below, you’ll find three role play cards, each presenting a common patient scenario you may encounter in your practice. Choose one and invite a colleague or friend to play the role of the patient.
Prepare Your Questions
Before starting, prepare by developing two Motivational Interviewing (MI) questions for each step of the GPS model. You can refer to the sample questions in the lecture for guidance and use the provided template to write them down.
Conduct the Role Play
When conducting the role play, you can work in groups of two or three. In groups of two, one person plays the hygienist, while the other takes on the role of the patient and provides feedback at the end. In groups of three, one person plays the hygienist, another plays the patient, and the third acts as an observer who provides feedback.
After each role play, take a moment to reflect on what worked well and give constructive feedback:
- Focus on behaviors, not evaluations. Instead of saying, “You were great,” highlight specific actions: “I liked how you asked the patient to set their own goal instead of telling them what to do.”
- Be constructive. If something could be improved, frame it as a question or suggestion: “When you told the patient they needed to clean better, what response were you hoping for?”
- Follow a structure. Start with the hygienist’s reflection — what they felt went well. Then, the patient shares their experience. Finally, the observer adds their perspective.
Choose your Role Play Scenario
Patient Oral Health
- Brushes twice a day with an electric toothbrush.
- Uses mouthwash in the morning.
- Hasn’t visited the dentist in over 15 years.
- Notices bleeding when brushing but avoids thinking about it.
- No previous fillings or major dental work.
- Severe dental anxiety, leading to multiple canceled appointments.
- No reported dental pain but fears needing extensive, painful treatment.
Patient Attitudes and Habits
- Extremely nervous about dental visits, avoids discussing fears at first.
- Feels embarrassed about not going to the dentist.
- Avoids flossing because it makes her look at her teeth, which she assumes are in poor condition.
- Influenced by negative stories about dental treatments from friends and media.
- Worries about needing unexpected, painful dental procedures.
- Came to the appointment reluctantly, mainly due to her husband’s insistence.
Patient Oral Health
- Notices bleeding gums but never connected it to his diabetes.
- Recently observed slight tooth displacement and some teeth appearing longer.
- Oral hygiene has been a low priority, as his focus has been on improving other aspects of his lifestyle and health.
- Has never visited a dental hygienist.
Patient Attitudes and Habits
- Led an unhealthy lifestyle (poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking) before his diabetes diagnosis.
- Started optimising diet and exercise under medical supervision.
- Despite his efforts, still struggles with poor glycemic control (HbA1c: 9.0% / 75 mmol/mol), frustrating both him and his GP.
- His GP, after learning about the diabetes-periodontal disease link, referred him to a periodontist, for a diagnosis.
- Now referred to a dental hygienist for further care.
- Feels discouraged — he thought he was doing enough for his health, yet his diabetes remains uncontrolled.
- Open to addressing his oral health but unsure if improving it will make a real difference in his condition.
Patient Oral Health
- Started orthodontic treatment based on her dentist’s recommendation for both function and aesthetics.
- Under an orthodontist’s supervision.
- Typically only sees a dental hygienist once a year but missed her last visit due to her treatment.
- Has not been particularly diligent about oral hygiene.
- Recently, her orthodontist noticed gingival inflammation and recession and recommended she see a dental hygienist.
Patient Attitudes and Habits
- Believes she has been following an effective oral care routine, as it was always sufficient before.
- Now frustrated that, despite her efforts, she is experiencing complications.
- Feels there was a lack of guidance from her dental team and is unclear on who was responsible for monitoring her oral hygiene.
- Feels a mix of frustration and guilt—she knows she should have visited a hygienist more often but also believes she was not properly advised.
- Open to working with a dental hygienist to improve her hygiene, as she recognizes its importance for her orthodontic success.
- However, trust in her dental team needs to be restored before she fully commits.