Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Unhealthy behaviours like smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise are major causes of chronic illnesses. Motivational communication is a science-based method that helps healthcare professionals (HCPs) better support patients in making behaviour changes by helping them see how a better lifestyle can help them achieve what matters most to them (e.g., spend time with grandchildren). This approach has been shown to help people quit smoking, eat healthier, increase their physical activity, and take their medication as prescribed. Training HCPs in motivational communication is becoming more common, but it's hard to measure how well they learn these skills because there are no simple and reliable tools to measure them. To fix this, the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Center worked with medical and behaviour experts from across Canada to create a training program called MOTIVATOR©. They also developed an easy-to-use online tool to assess motivational communication skills: the Motivational Communication Competency Assessment Tool (MC-CAT). This research project will test how well the MC-CAT can measure MC skills in HCPs. First, over 500 HCPs from across Canada will complete the tool twice to measure reliability, which ensures people get the same scores every time they complete it. Then, we will compare HCPs MC-CAT scores to expert ratings of their actual behaviour during patient consultations to see how well it reflects real-life practice. The project seeks to transform how HCPs collaborate with their patients. Supporting open communication about patients' needs, values, and motivations helps create care plans that make sense to them and are more likely to work long term. Improved communication supports lasting behaviour changes and empowers patients to take an active role in managing their health. This not only enhances the quality of care in chronic disease management but also helps reduce preventable complications, lowering the overall burden on the healthcare system.