Phase II Motivational Interviewing: An Experiential Online Training Tool

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Substance Use Disorders, Chronic Mental Disorder, HIV/AIDS

In brief

Clinical social workers, doctors, outreach workers, and all other staff providing direct care to vulnerable populations face multiple challenges in obtaining and maintaining training and implementing evidence based practices in diverse community settings. Motivational Interviewing is a well-established evidence based practice that is challenging to implement across programs and agencies because it requires that skills gained from training be reinforced as a service provider employs the practice. This study builds on findings from a Phase I study. With funding from a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institute of Health, the Center for Social Innovation developed the Motivational Interviewing Simulator: An Experiential Online Training Tool. The interactive, case-based, multiplayer web-based game allows service providers to deepen their skills in Motivational Interviewing (MI), a widely recognized evidence-based practice that supports people to make positive behavior changes related to health, wellness, mental illness, and addiction. The Phase II randomized controlled trial's primary aim is to assess the relative effectiveness of three interventions (MI Training Only; MI Training + eBook; MI Training + SIM) in increasing provider MI knowledge and skill retention over time. During Phase II of this study, we will recruit 180 providers from 18 community agencies serving individuals who live in supportive housing, many of whom have histories of mental illness, addiction, homelessness, and medical problems. After receiving a standardized two-day onsite MI training, participants will be randomized into one of three conditions: 1) MI Training Only; 2) MI Training + eBook (an online comparison with comparable information to the Simulator without the interactive elements); or 3) MI Training + Simulator. The longitudinal, mixed methods study will assess providers' acquisition and retention of MI knowledge and skills through surveys and coding of standardized client interviews; barriers and facilitators of MI implementation via focus groups; organizational-level data via key informant interviews and site visits; and client outcomes for 3,600 clients through surveys, administrative, data and focus groups.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02264327

Run by

Center for Social Innovation, Massachusetts

People needed

3816

Starts

2016-08-01

Expected to finish

2017-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-10-16

Who can join

Age: 21 and older, up to 70. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Providers who have not had formal MI training in the past 3 months.
• Providers who are willing to engage in MI training and evaluation, including obtaining Internal Review Board (IRB) certification for the collection of client data, distribution of client surveys for four three-day periods during the study, and agreement to participate in a focus group if their agency is selected for a site visit.
• Providers who carry caseloads of clients in human services or housing programs

You may not qualify if…

• Providers who have had formal MI training in the past 3 months.
• Providers who are not willing to engage in MI training and evaluation, including obtaining IRB certification for the collection of client data, distribution of client surveys for four three-day periods during the study, and agreement to participate in a focus group if their agency is selected for a site visit.
• Providers who do not carry caseloads of clients in human services or housing programs.

Where it is running

• Center For Social Innovation — Needham, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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