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Smoking Cessation

Use motivational interviewing techniques to explore a long-time smoker's ambivalence about quitting.

  1. 1
    Briefing
  2. 2
    Simulation
  3. 3
    Feedback

How This Works

This is an interactive phone call simulation. You'll speak with Mr. Jones in a realistic clinical communication scenario.

1. Start Call

Click "Start Call" when you're ready. Speak naturally as you would on a real call.

2. Have the Conversation

10 minutes to complete the call. The AI responds in real-time to what you say.

3. Get Feedback

End the call when finished. You'll receive AI-powered feedback on your communication.

💡 Tip: Speak clearly and at a natural pace. If you need a moment to think, it's okay to pause briefly - just as you would in a real conversation.

Briefing Details

1. Learning: The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Purpose of this Scenario

This scenario is designed to help you practice Motivational Interviewing (MI), a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change. The goal is not to persuade or confront, but to guide the patient to explore their own reasons for change. The core skills of MI are summarized by the acronym OARS.

The OARS Framework

  • Open-Ended Questions: Ask questions that can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." They invite the patient to tell their story. (e.g., "Tell me a little about your smoking.")
  • Affirmations: Acknowledge the patient's strengths and efforts. This builds rapport and self-efficacy. (e.g., "It takes a lot of courage to even talk about this.")
  • Reflections: Listen carefully and reflect back what you hear. This shows you're listening and helps the patient hear their own thoughts. (e.g., "So on the one hand, you enjoy smoking, but on the other, you're worried about your health.")
  • Summaries: Periodically summarize the conversation to reinforce key points and demonstrate that you've been listening.
The Goal: Elicit "Change Talk." Your primary goal is to have the patient, not you, make the arguments for change. Listen for and encourage any statements they make that point toward wanting, needing, or being ready to change.

2. Scenario Briefing: The Ambivalent Smoker

Your Objective

Your objective is to have a conversation with Mr. Jones, a 55-year-old long-time smoker who is ambivalent about quitting. Using the OARS framework, you must explore his motivations and help him voice his own reasons for considering a change, without telling him what to do.

Patient Background

Mr. Jones is a 55-year-old man with hypertension and a 30-pack-year smoking history. He is here for a routine follow-up. He knows he "should" quit smoking but has a lot of resistance to the idea.

Crucial Information: Mr. Jones will be defensive if he feels he is being lectured. A confrontational approach will fail. Your only path to a successful conversation is to be a collaborative guide.

Learning Objectives

Optional prep details

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Optional Pre-Call Knowledge Check

Optional self-check before you start

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After completing this scenario, you will be able to:

  • Apply the core principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI) to explore a patient's ambivalence about behavior change.
  • Utilize open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries (OARS) to elicit 'change talk' from a long-time smoker.
  • Differentiate between the 'spirit' of MI (collaborative, evocative) and a more directive or confrontational communication style.

According to the principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI), what is the primary goal when a patient expresses ambivalence about quitting smoking?

A long-time smoker says, 'I know I should quit for my health, but smoking is the only way I can relax.' Which response best reflects an MI approach?