Acute care occupational therapists often face brief sessions with medically complex patients, limiting opportunities to support long-term behavior change. Brief motivational interviewing (MI), a client-centered approach that enhances motivation by exploring individual values and goals, offers a practical solution. Evidence suggests even short MI sessions can improve adherence, self-management, and patient outcomes. This capstone advocates for the use of brief MI in acute care OT with patients with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDS), including practical strategies for implementation, such as staff training, workflow integration, and interdisciplinary collaboration. By incorporating brief MI, occupational therapists can promote meaningful engagement, reduce hospital readmissions, and support sustainable health behavior change.
