Using motivational interviewing. How would you approach a 38 year old patient with education that is related to their continued illegal drug use? He works in a very competitive industry and it is not unusual to find people within this population that use drugs to stay competitive in their quickly changing and high stress work environment. The client is having events of tachycardia, dysrhythmia, hypertension and had a minor stroke. The client is concerned he will lose his competitive edge, financial freedom, status in the community, but is scared after 2 admissions to the cardiac intensive care unit. He is married with 2 & 4 year old children.
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Introduction:
Motivational interviewing is an effective technique used in healthcare for helping individuals to make positive changes in their behavior. In the case of the 38-year-old patient who is continuing to use illegal drugs despite experiencing serious health consequences, motivational interviewing can be applied to address their drug use and promote positive change.
Approach:
The first step in using motivational interviewing with this patient is to establish a therapeutic relationship based on trust, empathy, and respect. It is important to approach the patient non-judgmentally, acknowledging their concerns and ambivalence about change. The focus should be on exploring the patient’s goals and values, and how their drug use may be interfering with these.
Additionally, assessing the patient’s confidence and willingness to make changes is important in developing a customized intervention plan. An important aspect of motivational interviewing is to understand that the patient is the expert on their own life, and that the healthcare provider’s role is to assist and support them to make changes that align with their own values and beliefs.
To motivate the patient, it is important to explore their fears and hopes related to their drug use and identify potential barriers to change. Education on the negative health consequences of drug use, as well as the impact it may have on their personal and professional life, can be helpful in promoting motivation.
In conclusion, motivational interviewing provides a patient-centered approach to addressing drug use in individuals like the 38-year-old patient. By establishing a therapeutic relationship and exploring their values, goals, and potential barriers, healthcare providers can effectively support patients in making positive changes to improve their health and well-being.
