Motivational Interviewing Skills and Dietitian Self-Efficacy

This article entitled “Motivational interviewing skills are positively associated with nutritionist self-efficacy” examined how physical and social self-concepts, motivational interviewing skills, and nutrition assessment skills are related to nutritionist self-efficacy.  The study sample was a group of 65 WIC dietitians who were either white or hispanic, and the main outcome examined was counseling self-efficacy on nutrition and physical activity topics with a language/cultural difference present.  There were many interesting relationships between variables demonstrated in the study.   For instance, perception of MI skills was positively associated with self-efficacy for counseling clients of a different culture, and Hispanic ethnicity and social self-concept were positively associated with self-efficacy in the present of cultural differences.  All of the findings of this study point to the importance of developing strong MI skills and social and physical self-concept.  Strengthening these areas gives the dietitian a higher level of self-efficacy, especially in counseling those of a different cultural background, and this would in turn, improve the client’s counseling experience. 

Ashley