The use of motivational interviewing in improving medication adherence for individuals with asthma: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective: This review was conducted to examine current literature on the use of motivational interviewing (MI) as a strategy to promote individuals with asthma to make behavioral changes and improve health outcomes. This article systematically reviews empirical MI studies which were used to promote asthma medication adherence in children, adolescents, and adults. Methods: Studies were obtained from several databases. We searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, PyscINFO, PubMed, and Cochrane database for articles on the use of MI to improve asthma medication adherence in individuals diagnosed with moderate to severe asthma. Various combinations of the following search terms were used: motivational interviewing, asthma, medication adherence, medication non-adherence, and MI. Results: MI intervention showed evidence of improved self-efficacy, asthma, self-management, and positive behavior change for individuals diagnosed with asthma. The results suggest that MI is a feasible and promising approach to improve attitudes toward asthma medication adherence. Conclusion: The generally favorable results indicate MI merged with other interventions and support is effective in improving medication adherence and is also more sustainable than MI as a stand-alone intervention. Additional research is necessary to assess the effectiveness of MI in ensuring individuals fill their prescriptions and use their medications as recommended.