Initial Validation of the Motivational Interviewing Measure of Staff Interaction

• NCJ Number: 230685
• Journal: Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Dated: April-June 2010 Pages: 230-238
• Author(s): Melinda Hohman, Ph.D.; William Matulich, Ph.D.
• Date Published: April 2010
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): TI16483
• Sponsoring Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin (SAMHSA)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study validated a reliable 10-item scale to measure the spirit of Motivational Interviewing (MI) in staff interactions with residential treatment clients.

Abstract

Many residential treatment programs train their staff in MI to encourage that the MI "spirit" (collaboration, evocation, and autonomy/support) be used in interactions with clients by all staff members, not just primary counselors. Small nonprofit agencies may not be able to provide the taping, coding, and coaching that are recommended to best learn MI and need another method to evaluate skill acquisition. This study validated a measure of MI spirit, the MI Measure of Staff Interaction. Forty items measuring MI spirit were given to 227 clients at 2 residential treatment programs along with an already validated measure of working alliance. Principal components analysis found 10 items measuring the three spirit factors. Concurrent validity was established through significant correlations between the scale, its factors, and the alliance measure. This scale may provide an alternative for program evaluation of agency atmosphere and staff interaction with clients. Tables and references (Published Abstract)