How Can You Support the Motivational Interviewing Process Between Visits?
There are numerous motivational tools that support behavior change:
Suggest exercise logs and journals, heart rate monitors, pedometers, Internet tracking for blood pressure, iPhone apps, scales, and reminders.
Encourage downloadable tools and webinars on behavior change on the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association website (PCNA.net): Clinical Tools/Tools for Healthcare providers/Heart Healthy Toolbox.
Write a prescription for agreed-on physical activity, such as, "You agreed to walk 10 minutes 3 times this week, 15 minutes next week, and 20 minutes the third week and keep an exercise log." At follow-up visits, keep up the momentum, review logs, and recognize progress. Use your 15 minutes wisely.
Support self-monitoring skills, celebrate small successes.
Continue to practice new ways to talk with patients, and value lifestyle counseling along with medical therapies.
You and your patients will be more fulfilled when experiencing small and large successes that have lifesaving power. Additional resources are listed in the references.