Background and objectives: This study investigated whether adult participants who receive a brief motivational interviewing (MI) intervention delivered by a family medicine provider (family nurse practitioner or family medicine resident [MD]) progress to the next stage of change and increase physical activity.
Methods: A pilot study that included enrollment of 30 patients who failed usual care counseling to increase physical activity by their family medicine provider. Each study participant received three MI sessions over a 3-month period and an initial face-to-face session followed by two telephone counseling sessions scheduled approximately a month apart. Stages of Change were measured by the Exercise Stages of Change Short Form, and physical activity was measured using the Community Healthy Activities Model Program (CHAMPS) activities questionnaire.
Results: Among the study participants, 80% (n=24) progressed to the next stage of change. Study participants also increased activity from baseline to completion.
Conclusions: MI counseling offers promise as a valuable intervention that can be used by family medicine providers to address patients' ambivalence to promote advancement through the stages of change and increase physical activity in the overweight patients.