Training Dietitians in Basic Motivational Interviewing Skills Results in Changes in Their Counseling Style and in Lower Saturated Fat Intakes in Their Patients

ObjectiveTo test if basic training for dietitians in motivational interviewing (MI) resulted in changes in dietitians’ counseling style and improvements in their patients’ diet and risk parameters.DesignA randomized controlled trial.Setting9 home-care organizations in the Netherlands.Participants37 dietitians, 209 baseline patients, and 142 follow-up diabetes patients.InterventionDietitians were randomly allocated to receive basic training in motivational interviewing (MI dietitians, n=18) or not (control dietitians, n=19).Main Outcome MeasuresCounseling style of dietitians; total self-reported saturated fat, fruit, and vegetable intake, measured body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and glycated hemoglobin (Hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c) of patients.AnalysisAnalyses of variance and multiple linear regression analyses. Alpha = .05ResultsMI dietitians were significantly more empathetic, more often showed reflection during consultations, and were more likely than control dietitians to let their patients talk for the majority of the consultation. Patients of MI dietitians had significantly lower saturated fat intake levels at posttest compared to patients of control dietitians. No effects on HbA1c, BMI, and waist circumference were found.Conclusions and ImplicationsBasic training in MI changed the dietitians’ counseling style and resulted in lower saturated fat intakes in their patients.