Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Motivational Interviewing in Ethnic Populations

  • Review Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an effective means of facilitating behavior change in a variety of health conditions. However, given its origins in western psychology, its utility in ethnic populations is unclear. Our objective was to examine the effectiveness of MI and its components in people of varying ethnicities and how they may experience MI. We undertook a narrative systematic review of the literature, searching only peer-reviewed research up until February, 2019 with participants who were: ≥ 18 years of age, belonging to an ethnic origin relevant to Canada’s population, and had a health related concern (e.g. drug and alcohol addictions, chronic illness). Four thousand seven hundred and sixty-one citations were retrieved, and ultimately 61 met the inclusion criteria. Cultural acknowledgment and considerations with MI, when described, enhanced effectiveness of MI in most ethnic groups. The length and the number of sessions had no apparent influence on the success of MI. When examined, most study participants reported acceptance of the intervention; however, there were challenges, most notably for Chinese patients. MI can be effective in a variety of ethnic groups, particularly when cultural acknowledgement is included in the process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Miller W, Rollnick S. Motivational interviewing: preparing people for change. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Nemati MH, Astaneh B. The impact of coronary artery bypass graft surgery on depression and anxiety. J Cardiovasc Med. 2002;12(6):401–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Rozanski A, Blumenthal JA, Kaplan J. Impact of psychological factors on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and implications for therapy. Circulation. 1999;99(16):2192–217.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Miller W, Rollnick S. Motivational interviewing: preparing people to change addictive behavior. New York: Guilford Press; 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hochbaum G, Rosenstock I, Kegels S. Health belief model. United States Public Health Service. 1952.

  6. Prochaska JO, DiClemente CC, Norcross JC. In search of how people change: applications to addictive behaviors. Am Psychol. 1992;47(9):1102–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. del Pilar Rocha-Goldberg M, Leonor C, Batch B, Voils CI, Thorpe CT, Bosworth HB, Svetkey LP. Hypertension Improvement Project (HIP) Latino: results of a pilot study of lifestyle intervention for lowering blood pressure in Latino adults. Ethn Health. 2010;15(3):269–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Miller STO, Veronica J, Brooks MA, Shintani A, Gebretsadik T, Jenkins DM. Preliminary efficacy of group medical nutrition therapy and motivational interviewing among obese african american women with type 2 diabetes: a pilot study. J Obes. 2014;2014:1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Befort CA, Nollen N, Ellerbeck EF, Sullivan DK, Thomas JL, Ahluwalia JS. Motivational interviewing fails to improve outcomes of a behavioral weight loss program for obese African American women: a pilot randomized trial. J Behav Med. 2008;31(5):367–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Chlebowy DO, El-Mallaka P, Myers J, Kubiak N, Cloud R, Wall MP. Motivational interviewing to improve diabetes outcomes in African Americans adults with diabetes. West J Nurs Res. 2015;37(5):566–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lin C-H, Chiang S-L, Heitkemper MM, Hung Y-J, Lee M-S, Tzeng W-C, Chiang L-C. Effects of telephone-based motivational interviewing in lifestyle modification program on reducing metabolic risks in middle-aged and older women with metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2016;60:12–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Huang FF, Jiao N, Zhang LY, Lei Y, Zhang JP. Effects of a family-assisted smoking cessation intervention based on motivational interviewing among low-motivated smokers in China. Patient Educ Couns. 2015;98(8):984–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Louwagie GMC, Okuyemi KS, Ayo-Yusuf OA. Efficacy of brief motivational interviewing on smoking cessation at tuberculosis clinics in Tshwane, South Africa: a randomized controlled trial. Addiction. 2014;109(11):1942–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mahajan R, Solanki J, Kurdekar RS, Gupta S, Modh A, Yadav O. Educating the handicraft factory workers about tobacco cessation and to assess its effectiveness by motivational interviewing: an intervention study. J Exp Ther Oncol. 2017;12(1):43–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Holstad MM, Essien JE, Ekong E, Higgins M, Teplinskiy I, Adewuyi MF. Motivational groups support adherence to antiretroviral therapy and use of risk reduction behaviors in HIV positive Nigerian women: a pilot study. Afr J Reprod Health. 2012;16(3):14–27.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Interian A, Lewis-Fernandez R, Gara MA, Escobar JI. A randomized-controlled trial of an intervention to improve antidepressant adherence among latinos with depression. Depress Anxiety (1091-4269). 2013;30(7):688–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ogedegbe GC, Chaplin W, Schoenthaler A, Statman D, Berger D, Richardson T, Phillips-Caesar E, Spencer J, Allegrante J. A practice-based randomized control trial of motivational interviewing and medication adherence in hypertensive African Americans. J Gen Intern Med. 2008;23(Suppl. 2):238.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Rubak S, Sandbaek A, Lauritzen T, Christensen B. Motivational interviewing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Gen Pract. 2005;55(513):305–12.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Cheng D, Qu Z, Huang J, Xiao Y, Luo H, Wang J. Motivational interviewing for improving recovery after stroke. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011398.pub2.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Dillard PK, Zuniga JA, Holstad MM. An integrative review of the efficacy of motivational interviewing in HIV management. Pat Educ Couns. 2017;100(4):636–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Lundahl BW, Kunz C, Brownell C, Tollefson D, Burke BL. A meta-analysis of motivational interviewing: twenty-five years of empirical studies. Res Soc Work Pract. 2010;20(2):137–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Bulatao RA, Anderson NB. Understanding racial and ethnic differences in health in late life: a research agenda. Washington: National Academies Press; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Statistics Canada. Immigration and ethnocultural diversity: Key results from the 2016 Census. 2017.

  24. Popay J, Roberts H, Sowden A, Petticrew M, Arai L, Rodgers M, Britten N, Roen K, Duffy S. Guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis in systematic reviews. A product from the ESRC Methods Programme. 2006. https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/shm/research/nssr/research/dissemination/publications/NS_Synthesis_Guidance_v1.pdf.

  25. Stats Canada. Ethnicity, Language and Immigration Thematic Series. Immigration and language in Canada, 2011 and 2016. https://www150.statcan.gc. ca/n1/pub/89-657-x/2019001/section/01-eng.htm.

  26. Miller W, Rollnick S. Motivational interviewing: helping people change. 3rd ed. New York: Guilford Press; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ouzzani M, Hammady H, Fedorowicz Z, Elmagarmid D. Rayyan—a web and mobile app for systematic reviews. Syst Rev. 2016;5:210.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Pace R, Pluye P, Bartlett G, Macaulay AC, Salsberg J, Jagosh J, Seller R. Testing the reliability and efficiency of the pilot mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) for systematic mixed studies review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2012;49(1):47–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Browning C, Chapman A, Yang H, Liu S, Zhang T, Enticott JC, Thomas SA. Management of type 2 diabetes in China: the happy life club, a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial using health coaches. BMJ Open. 2016;6(3):e009319.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Calhoun D, Brod R, Kirlin K, Howard BV, Schuldberg D, Fiore C. Effectiveness of motivational interviewing for improving self-care among Northern Plains Indians with type 2 diabetes. Diab Spectr. 2010;23(2):107–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Carroll KM, Martino S, Ball SA, Nich C, Frankforter T, Anez LM, Paris M, Suarez-Morales L, Szapocznik J, Miller WR, Rosa C, Matthews J, Farentinos C. A multisite randomized effectiveness trial of motivational enhancement therapy for spanish-speaking substance users. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2009;77(5):993–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Chair SY, Chan SW-C, Thompson DR, Leung K-P, Ng SK-C, Choi KC. Short-term effect of motivational interviewing on clinical and psychological outcomes and health-related quality of life in cardiac rehabilitation patients with poor motivation in Hong Kong: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2011;19(6):1383–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Chair SY, Chan SWC, Thompson DR, Leung KP, Ng SKC, Choi KC. Long-term effect of motivational interviewing on clinical and psychological outcomes and health-related quality of life in cardiac rehabilitation patients with poor motivation in Hong Kong: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2013;27(12):1107–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Danaee-far M, Maarefvand M, Rafiey H. Effectiveness of a brief home-based social work motivational intervention for male methamphetamine users in Tehran: a randomized clinical trial. Subst Use Misuse. 2016;51(14):1863–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Field CA, Caetano R, Harris TR, Frankowski R, Roudsari B. Ethnic differences in drinking outcomes following a brief alcohol intervention in the trauma care setting. Addiction. 2010;105(1):62–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Field C, Caetano R. The role of ethnic matching between patient and provider on the effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions with Hispanics. Alcoholism. 2010;34(2):262–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Hosseini N, Mokhtari S, Momeni E, Vossoughi M, Barekatian M. Effect of motivational interviewing on quality of life in patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2016;55:70–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Landry A, Madson M, Thomson J, Zoellner J, Connell C, Yadrick K. A randomized trial using motivational interviewing for maintenance of blood pressure improvements in a community-engaged lifestyle intervention: HUB city steps. Health Educ Res. 2015;30(6):910–22.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Lee CS, Hernandez L, Colby SM, Borrelli B, Lopez SR, Caetano R, Rohsenow D. A cultural adaptation of motivational interviewing to address heavy drinking among Hispanics. Cult Divers Ethn Minor Psychol. 2011;17(3):317–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Lee CS, Lopez SR, Colby SM, Rohsenow D, Hernández L, Borrelli B, Caetano R. Culturally adapted motivational interviewing for latino heavy drinkers: results from a randomized clinical trial. J Ethn Subst Abuse. 2013;12(4):356–73.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Lewis-Fernandez R, Balan IC, Patel SR, Sanchez-Lacay J, Alfonso C, Gorritz M, Blanco C, Schmidt A, Jiang H, Schneier F, Moyers TB. Impact of motivational pharmacotherapy on treatment retention among depressed Latinos. Psychiatry. 2013;76(3):210–22.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Li L, Wu Z, Liang L-J, Lin C, Zhang L, Guo S, Rou K, Li J. An intervention targeting service providers and clients for methadone maintenance treatment in China: a cluster-randomized trial. Addiction. 2013;108(2):356–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Longshore D, Grills C, Annon K. Effects of a culturally congruent intervention on cognitive factors related to drug use-recovery. Subst Use Misuse. 1999;34(9):1223–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Ma C, Zhou Y, Zhou W, Huang C. Evaluation of the effect of motivational interviewing counselling on hypertension care. Pat Educ Couns. 2014;95(2):231–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Marín-Navarretea R, Horigian VE, Medina-Mora ME, Verdeja RE, Alonso E, Feaster DJ, Fernández-Mondragón J, Berlanga C, Sánchez-Huesca R, Lima-Rodríguez C, De la Fuente-Martín A. Motivational enhancement treatment in outpatient addiction centers: a multisite randomized trial. Intervención de incremento motivacional en centros ambulatorios para las adicciones: un ensayo aleatorizado multi-céntrico. 2017;17(1):9–19.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Methapatara W, Srisurapanont M. Pedometer walking plus motivational interviewing program for Thai schizophrenic patients with obesity or overweight: a 12-week, randomized, controlled trial. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011;65(4):374–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Miller ST, Marolen KN, Beech BM. Perceptions of physical activity and motivational interviewing among rural African-American women with type 2 diabetes. Women’s Health Issues. 2010;20(1):43–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Mirkarimi K, Kabir MJ, Honarvar MR, Ozouni-Davaji RB, Eri M. Effect of motivational interviewing on weight efficacy lifestyle among women with overweight and obesity: a randomized controlled trial. Iran J Med Sci. 2017;42(2):187–93.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Mirkarimi K, Mostafavi F, Ozouni-Davaji RB, Eshghinia S, Vakili MA. The effect of weight loss program on overweight and obese females based on protection motivation theory: a randomized control trial. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2017;19(1):1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Montgomery L, Burlew AK, Kosinski AS, Forcehimes AA, Montgomery L, Burlew AK, Kosinski AS, Forcehimes AA. Motivational enhancement therapy for African American substance users: a randomized clinical trial. Cult Divers Ethn Minority Psychol. 2011;17(4):357–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Montgomery L, Sanning B, Litvak N, Peters EN. Preliminary findings on the association between clients’ perceived helpfulness of substance abuse treatment and outcomes: does race matter? Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014;139:152–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Navidian A, Kermansaravi F, Tabas EE, Saeedinezhad F. Efficacy of group motivational interviewing in the degree of drug craving in the addicts under the Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) in South East of Iran. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2016;30(2):144–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Navidian A, Mobaraki H, Shakiba M. The effect of education through motivational interviewing compared with conventional education on self-care behaviors in heart failure patients with depression. Patient Educ Couns. 2017;100(8):1499–504.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Osborn CY, Amico K, Cruz N, O’Connell AA, Perez-Escamilla R, Kalichman SC, Wolf SA, Fisher JD. A brief culturally tailored intervention for Puerto Ricans with type 2 diabetes. Health Educ Behav. 2010;37(6):849–62.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Palacio AM, Uribe C, Hazel-Fernandez L, Li H, Tamariz LJ, Garay SD, Carrasquillo O. Can phone-based motivational interviewing improve medication adherence to antiplatelet medications after a coronary stent among racial minorities? A randomized trial. JGIM. 2015;30(4):469–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Rendall-Mkosi K, Morojele N, London L, Moodley S, Singh C, Girdler-Brown B. A randomized controlled trial of motivational interviewing to prevent risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy in the Western Cape, South Africa. Addiction. 2013;108(4):725–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Robles RR, Reyes JC, Colón HM, Sahai H, Marrero CA, Matos TD, Calderón JM, Shepard EW. Effects of combined counseling and case management to reduce HIV risk behaviors among Hispanic drug injectors in Puerto Rico: a randomized controlled study. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2004;27(2):145–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Saffari M, Pakpour AH, Mohammadi-Zeidi I, Samadi M, Chen H. Long-term effect of motivational interviewing on dietary intake and weight loss in iranian obese/overweight women. Health Promot Persp. 2014;4(2):206–56.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Schilling RF, El-Bassel N, Jane Blansfield F, Roman RJ, Hanson M. Motivational interviewing to encourage self-help participation following alcohol detoxification. Res Soc Work Pract. 2002;12(6):711–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Song HY, Yong SJ, Hur HK. Effectiveness of a brief self-care support intervention for pulmonary rehabilitation among the elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Korea. Rehabil Nurs. 2014;39(3):147–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Sorsdahl K, Stein DJ, Corrigall J, Cuijpers P, Smits N, Naledi T, Myers B. The efficacy of a blended motivational interviewing and problem solving therapy intervention to reduce substance use among patients presenting for emergency services in South Africa: a randomized controlled trial. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2015;10:1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. van Loggerenberg F, Grant AD, Naidoo K, Murrman M, Gengiah S, Gengiah TN, Fielding K, Abdool Karim SS. Individualised motivational counselling to enhance adherence to antiretroviral therapy is not superior to didactic counselling in South African patients: findings of the CAPRISA 058 randomised controlled trial. AIDS Behav. 2015;19(1):1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Villanueva M, Tonigan JS, Miller WR. Response of Native American clients to three treatment methods for alcohol dependence. J Ethn Subst Abuse. 2007;6(2):41–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Wu D, Ma GX, Zhou K, Zhou D, Liu A, Poon AN, Wu D, Ma GX, Zhou K, Zhou D, Liu A, Poon AN. The effect of a culturally tailored smoking cessation for Chinese American smokers. Nicot Tob Res. 2009;11(12):1448–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Abdull MM, McCambridge J, Evans J, Muazu F, Gilbert C. Can adapted motivational interviewing improve uptake of surgical or laser treatment for glaucoma in nigeria: randomized controlled trial. J Glaucoma. 2017;26(9):822–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Akbari S, Rahimi C, Mohamadi N, Hussaini SH. Studying the effectiveness of motivational group therapy in heroin addicts in Kabul. Intervention. 2018;16(3):249–55.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Alves de Oliveira Oller GAS, Pilotto de Oliveira M, Bernardi Cesarino C, de Souza Teixeira CR, Cardeal da Costa JA, Kusumota L. Clinical trial for the control of water intake of patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem (RLAE). 2018;26:1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Borji M, Taghinejad H, Salimi AH. The effect of motivational interviewing on fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurosci. 2018. https://doi.org/10.5812/archneurosci.63436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Chapman A, Browning CJ, Enticott JC, Yang H, Liu S, Zhang T, et al. Effect of a health coach intervention for the management of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus in China: a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial. Front. 2018;6:252.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Chen J, Zhao H, Hao S, Xie J, Ouyang Y, Zhao S. Motivational interviewing to improve the self-care behaviors for patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Sci. 2018;5:213–7.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Dashtidehkordi A, Shahgholian N, Maghsoudi J, Sadeghian J. The effects of motivational interviewing on the health status of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2018;23(4):287–91.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  72. Miller ST, Akohoue SA. Two-year follow-up study of a group-based diabetes medical nutrition therapy and motivational interviewing intervention among African American women. Pat Relat. 2017;8:57–61.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Mojahed K, Navidian A. The effect of motivational interviewing on craving and dependence on Hookah in Suburban pregnant women in South East of Iran. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2018;39(8):693–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Momtazi S, Salimi C, Zenouzian S, Shourani MJ, Urquhart C. Motivational interviewing as group therapy for glycemic control and treatment satisfaction of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Middle East J Fam Med. 2018;16(1):75–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Pakpour AH, Modabbernia A, Lin CY, Saffari M, Asl MA, Webb TL. Promoting medication adherence among patients with bipolar disorder: a multicenter randomized controlled trial of a multifaceted intervention. Psychol Med. 2017;47(14):2528–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Palacio AM, Vidot DC, Tamariz LJ, Uribe C, Hazel-Fernandez L, Hua L, et al. Can we identify minority patients at risk of nonadherence to antiplatelet medication at the time of coronary stent placement? J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2017;32(6):522–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  77. Schoenthaler AM, Lancaster KJ, Chaplin W, Butler M, Forsyth J, Ogedegbe G. Cluster randomized clinical trial of faith (faith-based approaches in the treatment of hypertension) in blacks. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2018;11(10):e004691.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Soderlund PD, Stuart GW, Mueller M, York J, Lopez CM. Feasibility of motivational interviewing and physical activity counseling sessions for improving physical activity self-management for latina women either at risk for or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Transcult Nurs. 2018;30:453–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Arnold E, Boggs K. Interpersonal relationships: professional communication for nurses. 7th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  80. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Strategy for patient-oriented research. 2019. http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/41204.html.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathryn M. King-Shier.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bahafzallah, L., Hayden, K.A., Raffin Bouchal, S. et al. Motivational Interviewing in Ethnic Populations. J Immigrant Minority Health 22, 816–851 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-019-00940-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-019-00940-3

Keywords

Navigation