With support from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, HCIF promotes regional and statewide health literacy initiatives across multiple sectors. One aim of this work is to offer opportunities for health care professionals to build capacity in addressing the health literacy needs of patients and families. Last week, professionals from multiple health systems in the Philadelphia area who partner with HCIF had the opportunity to attend an advanced training course, hosted at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and taught by TJU Center for Urban Health faculty. This course, which also provided Continuing Nursing Education credit, focused on incorporating principles of motivational interviewing into patient care to encourage positive behavior change.
Attendees gained an understanding of the theoretical framework behind motivational interviewing, learned key tenets underlying this interaction style, and practiced applying principles in role-play sessions. Motivational interviewing’s core principles of empathy and of collaboration between patients and providers underscore key components of broader health literacy practices, such as bi-directional communication and making health information accessible for all. Together with our health literacy partners, HCIF looks forward to coordinating additional training opportunities in the future.