The effectiveness of motivational interviewing as a form of care for adults with type 2 diabetes: A descriptive review

Background: The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has increased rapidly worldwide during the last two decades. Lifestyle and behavioral factors such as diet, exercise and self-care have a crucial role in the prevention and management of T2D. The motivation behind the desire to change is a cornerstone of adopting a healthier lifestyle. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counseling technique that emphasizes to individuals incentives to change rather than just giving information. There is a lack of scientific evidence to indicate whether MI is a suitable form of care among patients with T2D. The aim of this study was to identify the outcomes of Motivational Interviewing in the context of care of adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A descriptive review of studies published between January 2001 and March 2011 describing motivational interviewing in the care of patients with type 2 diabetes was conducted by interrogating electronical databases (CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus) and conducting a manual search. Two researchers selected the studies and assessed their quality independently. Results: Five studies were selected for inclusion in this review. Our results show that studies describing MI used as a form of therapy in the care of T2D patients yield mixed results. Statistically significant effects for some clinical outcomes and among behavioral and psychological outcomes were reported. Conclusions: The studies reviewed indicate that although MI seems to be a promising form of care among patients with T2D, further research into applying MI within T2D care is urgently needed.