MI consists of five specific techniques: open-ended
questions, reflective listening, affirmations, summarizing
and eliciting. However over the time, the emphasis has
been increasingly on the spirit of MI based on collaboration,
evoking and autonomy [13,15].
RNs, like other health care professionals, have a responsibility
in promoting health, and in Sweden RNs are heavily
involved in health promotion practice (HPP) [16]. It is essential
that they understand how they can effectively help
people who have lifestyle problems [6,7,17]. Research has
shown that RNs experience MI as a valuable tool in their
HPP [18] and several studies indicate that MI is an effective
method to support patients to make lifestyle changes
[19-23]. However, meta-analysis of MI has reached different
conclusions, due to insufficiently considered fidelity of the
treatment that was provided in the study. Miller & Rollnick
[24] point out the importance to clarify the conditions under
which a complex treatment like MI is less or more effective.