The relationship between the fidelity of motivational interviewing and nutritional outcomes in African American church populations

Poor dietary patterns and physical inactivity contributed to approximately 400,000 deaths in the United States (Mokdad, Marks, Stroup, & Gerberding, 2004). Interventions to increase healthy behaviors are required to deal with poor diet, especially in populations of color. Motivational Interviewing is one technique used to promote healthy behaviors. Assessing the fidelity of the technique is an important aspect of understanding the outcomes associated with MI. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between nutritional outcomes and the fidelity of Motivational Interviewing. The study also focused on establishing the reliability and validity of a new MI coding system. Specifically, the inter-rater and scale reliability of the One-Pass was examined. In addition, the construct validity of the One-Pass was assessed by examining the relationship between the One-Pass and the MITI, a previously established instrument. In order to determine the fidelity of Motivational Interviewing in a reliable and valid method, the study was aimed at examining the inter-rate and scale reliability of the One-Pass and at examining the relationship to validity defined through the correlation between MITI scores and the One-Pass. The sample consisted of 157 participants drawn from a larger pool of approximately 1000 participants from 14 churches in the metro-Atlanta area. The results did not indicate significant relationships between the One-Pass, and the MITI. Additionally, neither measure showed a significant relationship with fruit and vegetable intake change. Implications for future research in the field of health promotion and MI are provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)