University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford, Bristol, United Kingdom.
Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2022 Sep 12;17(9):e0265586. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265586. eCollection 2022.
Current veterinary communication skills training often focuses on the strategies necessary to successfully transfer information and promote shared decision making rather than inspiring client motivation to engage in behaviour change(s). One evidence-based communication methodology with a specific focus on enhancing conversations about change is Motivational Interviewing (MI), which is perceived by veterinarians to be highly relevant to their profession. We examined whether veterinarians who experienced brief (4-5 hours) MI training (BMIT) were able to change their communication behaviours to be more MI consistent. Fourteen veterinarians recorded 31 veterinary herd health consultations before (n = 15) and after (n = 16) BMIT to allow pre-post intervention analysis of veterinarian and farmer verbal behaviour. Additionally, using a sequential linguistic analysis of 3885 veterinarian-farmer communication events within these consultations, the influence of veterinarians' verbal behaviours on farmers' response language was explored. Analysis of veterinary consultations undertaken before and after BMIT revealed that veterinarians changed their communication style to be more consistent with the MI methodology, including more use of reflection statements, a more empathic and partnership-oriented consultation style and greater emphasis on clients' own language in favour of change goals. In response, farmers contributed more to the conversation and discussed more herd health-related changes. Sequential linguistic analysis suggested that following a veterinarian emphasising something positive about the farmer (e.g. efforts, strengths), seeking collaboration or emphasising farmer choice, farmers were subsequently more likely to express arguments in favour of change ('Change Talk'), especially phrases indicative of commitment. This study offers the first evidence of the potential value of a BMIT experience to enhance veterinary communication skills, although conscious and disciplined use of MI principles, strategies and Spirit-an ethos of compassion, acceptance, partnership and evocation-requires longer and more complex training. Further studies examining the longevity and consistency of these verbal behaviour changes following BMIT are required.
当前兽医沟通技巧培训通常侧重于成功传递信息和促进共同决策所需的策略，而不是激发客户参与行为改变的动机。一种具有增强关于改变的对话特定重点的循证沟通方法是动机性访谈（MI），兽医认为它与他们的职业高度相关。我们研究了接受简短（4-5 小时）MI 培训（BMIT）的兽医是否能够改变他们的沟通行为，使其更符合 MI 原则。14 名兽医在接受 BMIT 培训之前（n = 15）和之后（n = 16）记录了 31 次兽医畜群健康咨询，以便对兽医和农民的口头行为进行干预前后分析。此外，通过对这些咨询中的 3885 个兽医-农民沟通事件进行顺序语言分析，探讨了兽医的言语行为对农民回应语言的影响。对接受 BMIT 前后进行的兽医咨询的分析表明，兽医改变了他们的沟通方式，使其更符合 MI 方法，包括更多地使用反映性陈述、更具同理心和以伙伴关系为导向的咨询方式，以及更加强调客户自己的语言以支持改变目标。作为回应，农民更多地参与了对话，并讨论了更多与畜群健康相关的变化。顺序语言分析表明，在兽医强调农民的某些优点（例如努力、优势）、寻求合作或强调农民的选择之后，农民随后更有可能表达支持改变的观点（“改变谈话”），特别是表示承诺的短语。这项研究首次提供了 BMIT 经验增强兽医沟通技巧的潜在价值的证据，尽管有意识和有纪律地使用 MI 原则、策略和 Spirit（一种同情、接受、伙伴关系和唤起的精神）需要更长时间和更复杂的培训。需要进一步研究来检验 BMIT 后这些口头行为变化的持久性和一致性。
