The University of Texas, School of Public Health, Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, 5323 Harry Hines, V8.112, Dallas, TX 75390-9128. E-mail:
Prev Chronic Dis. 2013 Nov 7;10:E185. doi: 10.5888/pcd10.130084.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has implemented MOVE!, a weight-management program for veterans designed to address the increasing proportion of overweight and obese veterans. The objective of our study was to determine whether peer support employing motivational interviewing (MI) could positively influence lifestyle changes, thus expanding the reach of the MOVE! program. We describe the initial evaluation of the peer training program.
We developed an MI peer ounselor training program for volunteer veterans, the "Buddies" program, to provide one-on-one telephone support for veterans enrolled in MOVE!. Buddies were recruited at 5 VHA sites and trained to provide peer support for the 6-month MOVE! intervention. We used a DVD to teach MI skills and followed with 2 to 3 booster sessions. We observed training, conducted pre- and posttraining surveys, and debriefed focus groups to assess training feasibility.
Fifty-six Buddies were trained. Results indicate positive receipt of the program (89% reported learning about peer counseling and 87% reported learning communication skills). Buddies showed a small improvement in MI self-efficacy on posttraining surveys. We also identified key challenges to learning MI and training implementation.
MI training is feasible to implement and acceptable to volunteer Buddies. Trainers must assess how effectively volunteers learn MI skills in order to enhance its effective use in health promotion.
退伍军人健康管理局（VHA）已经实施了 MOVE！，这是一个针对退伍军人的体重管理计划，旨在解决超重和肥胖退伍军人比例不断增加的问题。我们的研究目的是确定同伴支持采用动机访谈（MI）是否能积极影响生活方式的改变，从而扩大 MOVE！计划的覆盖范围。我们描述了同伴培训计划的初步评估。
我们为志愿退伍军人开发了一个 MI 同伴咨询师培训计划，即“伙伴”计划，为参加 MOVE！的退伍军人提供一对一的电话支持。伙伴们在 5 个 VHA 地点招募，并接受了为期 6 个月的 MOVE！干预的同伴支持培训。我们使用 DVD 来教授 MI 技能，然后进行 2 到 3 次强化课程。我们观察培训，进行培训前后的调查，并进行焦点小组讨论，以评估培训的可行性。
共有 56 名伙伴接受了培训。结果表明，该计划得到了积极的反馈（89%的人报告说了解同伴咨询，87%的人报告说学习了沟通技巧）。伙伴们在培训后的调查中显示出 MI 自我效能感的微小提高。我们还确定了学习 MI 和培训实施的关键挑战。
MI 培训是可行的，并且可以被志愿伙伴接受。培训师必须评估志愿者学习 MI 技能的有效性，以提高其在健康促进中的有效应用。
