Factors Influencing the Outcome, Mechanism, and Implementation of Motivational Interviewing After Hip Fracture: A Qualitative Analysis.

Background and purpose: Motivational interviewing, an evidence-based person-centered counseling style, may help to facilitate increased mobility and physical activity after hip fracture. We explored contextual factors influencing the outcome, mechanism, and implementation of motivational interviewing after hip fracture.

Methods: A qualitative study was completed using an interpretive description framework. Data sources included verbatim transcriptions of interviews with purposively sampled patients (n = 18), clinicians (n = 6 including 3 physical therapists), and relevant physical therapy stakeholders (a trial coordinator, a manager, and physical therapists involved in trial recruitment; n = 4), and 128 randomly selected clinician diaries where clinicians recorded notes at the end of each motivational interviewing session. Data were independently coded by 2 researchers and mapped to the Medical Research Council process evaluation framework. Consensus discussions involving all researchers were completed to triangulate the data and develop an interpretive synthesis.

Results: We found 3 main themes and 3 subthemes in the data. The main themes were: (a) It's about life, (b) Walking is not the goal, and (c) It's complicated. The last theme was further developed into a model depicting internal, external, and social factors influencing the outcome, mechanism, and implementation of motivational interviewing after hip fracture. Internal factors related to physical and psychological functioning. External factors included elements related to the environment and health services. Social factors included having a support system, receiving positive feedback, isolation, and feeling overwhelmed. Factors interplayed to create a multitiered model, with the person's life at the center. Traditional rehabilitation was perceived as addressing the physical factors of hip fracture, while motivational interviewing intervention was considered to address the whole person.

Conclusion: Many contextual factors interplay to influence motivational interviewing intervention after hip fracture. For successful hip fracture rehabilitation, our results suggest physical therapists and other care providers address these factors in addition to physical rehabilitation and focus on the person at the center of the process.