ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces simple and practical behaviour change strategies that can be initiated by clinicians to encourage self-care and motivate changes in behaviour and attitudes to health. It describes the effective components of health behaviour change interventions within primary care settings, and focuses upon one particular intervention, 'motivational interviewing (MI)', and outlines some general strategies that can be incorporated into health behaviour change consultations. The MI is a refined form of a guiding style of communication that aims to help patients explore and resolve ambivalence to change. It is a good intervention to use with patients who perhaps feel less ready to change. The chapter explores the process of behaviour change, and looks at the issue of patients who are ambivalent to change, and what might be helpful. It provides signposts to resources that you may be interested in, should you want to develop your skills in behaviour change further.
