Examining the Theoretical Constructs of Motivational Interviewing: Applying Self-Determination Theory to Physical Activity Among Heart Failure Patients

Spranger, Catherine Borski, Examining the Theoretical Constructs of Motivational Interviewing: Applying Self-Determination Theory to Physical Activity Among Heart Failure Patients. Doctor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), May, 2008, 90 pp., 8 tables, reference list, 61 titles. Effective management of heart failure (HF) is one of the major challenges facing health care providers today due to the complexity of a number of inter-related health and self-care behaviors. One health behavior that is important in the management of HF is physical activity. Motivational Interviewing (MI) has been shown to be an effective counseling style engaging individuals to both adopt and maintain physical activity; however, the literature is lacking in this area among HF patients. One underlying theoretical basis of MI that has been proposed is Self-Determination Theory (SDT). The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the relationships between physical activity and the SDT constructs of autonomous motivation, perceived competence, and autonomy support. The sample consisted of 26 HF patients in a heart failure clinic in north central Texas. Participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire examining various psychological constructs, as well as, assessing their levels of physical activity during a typical week during the preceding month. The finding of this study lend some support to better understanding the relationships between specific SDT constructs and physical activity. Likewise the findings demonstrated the importance of motivation-related variables to understanding how to motivate HF patients to both initiate physical activity and maintain a regular physical activity regimen.