Discussion
PNs therefore apply their MI skills on average more when patients are in the preparation stage than in the other SOC. This
suggests that, to some extent, PNs intuitively assess the stage of patients’ readiness to change and tailor their communication consequently. After all, PNs were not aware of the focus of our observations and in the end differences between the stages were small. However, PNs were aware that their MI skills were being evaluated thinks and feels about behaviour change’ during the precontemplation and contemplation stage than during the other stages; that PNs ‘acknowledges challenges about behaviour change that the patient faces’ less during the action and maintenance stage than during the other stages of change; that PNs and patients are more likely ‘to exchange ideas about how the patient could change current behaviour’ during the preparation stage than during the other SOC.