The next activity will help you apply MI principles in practice.
You will be asked to consider how different responses may:
- Support reflection and engagement
- Feel supportive or judgemental
- Encourage or discourage further conversation
There is usually more than one “good” response — the focus is on choosing the response that best reflects the MI mindset.
A patient says: “I only come when the pain gets really bad”
How would you respond?
Select which you think is the best response using MI principles.
Option 1 “Coming only when you’re in pain can make problems worse. It’s really important to attend the dentist regularly, even when nothing hurts.”
This response is well-intentioned and factually accurate, but it focuses on giving advice and telling the patient what they should do. This can feel directive and may shut down further conversation rather than encouraging reflection.
Option 2: “Lots of people do that, don’t worry – but you really should try to get to the dentist so things don’t get worse.”
This response attempts to normalise the patient’s behaviour, which can feel reassuring. However, it still moves quickly into advice and “should” language, which limits the opportunity for the patient to explore their own reasons and barriers.
Option 3: “It sounds like you tend to wait until things feel unmanageable before coming in. Can you tell me a bit about what’s made it hard to come earlier?”
This response reflects back what the patient has said and invites them to share more. It is open, non-judgemental, and supports the patient to explore their experiences and barriers. This approach aligns closely with Motivational Interviewing principles.
Option 4: “Is it that you don’t think about coming when you’re not in pain, or that it feels difficult to book appointments?”
This response shows curiosity and moves away from advice, which is positive. However, it narrows the conversation by offering explanations before the patient has had a chance to describe their experience in their own words. MI encourages open exploration before focusing in.