Introduction:

Nursing professionals from five nephrology departments received training in Motivational Interviewing through an eight-hour workshop focused on how to promote adherence to treatment in renal patients and their families. The objective of the present study was to assess changes in: perceived competence in specific communication skills, spontaneous empathic response and readiness to apply in vivo communicative skills measured through an observation grid.

Material and Method:

Pretest-posttest design without control group. The sample consisted of 46 nephrology nurses.

Results:

The results show changes in the perceived competence to validate the patient (p<0.031), as well as emotional self-regulation (p<0.014). The empathic spontaneous response increased in the four clinical cases presented, but no statistical significance was reached (p>0.05). The observation grid, implemented during the training, reported on indicators of success such as: reducing the paternalistic tone, showing calm, generating trust and active listening.

Conclusions:

The results are consistent with other studies that evaluate the impact of communication training programs in nephrology.