Choice Bundling Increases Valuation of Delayed Losses More Than Gains in Cigarette Smokers

Choice bundling, in which a single choice produces a series of repeating consequences over time, increases valuation of delayed monetary and non-monetary gains. Interventions derived from this manipulation may be an effective method for mitigating the elevated delay discounting rates observed in cigarette smokers. No prior work, however, has investigated whether the effects of choice bundling generalize to reward losses. In the present study, an online panel of cigarette smokers (N = 302), recruited using survey firms Ipsos and InnovateMR, completed assessments for either monetary gains or losses (randomly assigned). In Step 1, participants completed a delay-discounting task to establish Effective Delay 50 (ED50), or the delay required for an outcome to lose half of its value. In Step 2, participants completed three conditions of an adjusting-amount task, choosing between a smaller, sooner (SS) adjusting amount and a larger, later (LL) fixed amount. The bundle size (i.e., number of consequences) was manipulated across conditions, where a single choice produced either 1 (control), 3, or 9 consequences over time (ascending/descending order counterbalanced). The delay to the first LL amount in each condition, as well as the intervals between all additional SS and LL amounts (where applicable), were set to individual participants’ ED50 values from Step 1 to control for differences in discounting of gains and losses. Results from Step 1 showed significantly higher ED50 values (i.e., less discounting) for losses compared to gains (p < 0.001). Results from Step 2 showed that choice bundling significantly increased valuation of both LL gains and losses (p < 0.001), although effects were significantly greater for losses (p < 0.01). Sensitivity analyses replicated these conclusions. Future research should examine the potential clinical utility of choice bundling, such as development of motivational interventions that emphasize both the bundled health gains associated with smoking cessation and the health losses associated with continued smoking.

Leveraging on Motivation to Retain Employees: The Role of Psychological Contract

The migration of nurses in pursuit of ‘greener pastures’ has been an issue of great concern and a threat to the health sector across the globe, especially the developing nations. Interventions by successive Ghanaian governments to stem the tide have failed because issues surrounding transfer policies, family reunion and career choice trajectories have not been satisfactorily addressed. This empirical study was aimed at identifying the missing links in the motivational interventions in order to proffer suggestions on specific support systems to retain nurses. The study adopted a cross-sectional design under the quantitative methodology to achieve the objective of the study. A questionnaire was used as an instrument to collect primary data from a sample size (n) of 350 nurses from five Mission Hospitals in Bono East Region of Ghana. The data was analyzed using SmartPLS3 structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings revealed that psychological contract plays an important role in stay-or-quit decision of nurses because management’s effort at motivating staff is still at odds with the critical elements of nurses’ motivational content.

Do Alcohol Prevention Programs Influence Adolescents’ Drinking Behaviors? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study analyzed the effects of various alcohol prevention programs on the drinking behavior of adolescents. There were seven electronic databases used for the literature search. A systematic review and meta-analysis are employed for works published in Korean and English from January 2010 to April 2021, with strict inclusion criteria yielding 12 papers in the review. The type of alcohol prevention interventions included educational and motivational interventions. Six studies had more than 500 participants each, and five studies had more than 10 participating schools. The programs did not effectively reduce the frequency of drinking or binge drinking of adolescents but significantly reduced the amount of alcohol consumed. Based on the results of this study, when planning alcohol prevention programs for adolescents, it is necessary to adopt a multi-level approach, including the engagement of parents and the community.

Improving CPAP Adherence in Adults With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Scoping Review of Motivational Interventions

Objective: This scoping review aims to provide an accessible summary of available evidence on the efficacy of motivational interventions to increase adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) among patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) and of their specific aspects and strategies by assessing adherence measures.Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases using the concepts of “obstructive sleep apnea syndrome,” “continuous positive airway pressure,” “motivational intervention,” and “adherence.” Rigorous inclusion criteria and screening by at least two reviewers were applied. Data were extracted to address the review aims and were presented as a narrative synthesis.Results: Search for databases produced 11 randomized controlled trials, all including naïve CPAP users. Findings showed that motivational interventions were more effective than usual care and educational programs in increasing adherence to CPAP, despite results were not always maintained over time across studies.Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review of the literature aimed to explore the characteristics and impact of motivational interventions to promote adherence to CPAP in patients with OSAS. More research providing a detailed description of motivational strategies, and testing of their association with positive treatment outcomes via both direct and indirect measures are needed to increase awareness on active mechanisms of change.

Impact of self-determination theory in a physiotherapeutic training

Summary Background This study determined to what extent the underpinning of physiotherapeutic interventions with the evidence-based motivational psychological concept of the self-determination theory (SDT) by Ryan and Deci can increase motivation and enjoyment of movement in obese adolescents. Methods In this study 12 obese adolescents aged 14–18 years were offered a targeted group-specific sports program including a home exercise program of 8 weeks. The group leaders were trained in the SDT and supported to integrate motivational aspects. A SDT-based questionnaire by Kohake and Lehnert was used to evaluate motivational interventions. Results In total, seven (58%) patients finished the study. In the before-after comparison there were little changes in motivation. Results showed that contrary to expectations the motivation of the obese adolescents to move and to participate in the study was generally high. In the study, more internalized forms of motivation dominated, the highest quality form of motivation. Conclusion Digital technologies could be a successful way to further increase motivation and compliance of our target group. This MotiMove study is a basis for future research programs and empower physiotherapists and movement experts to develop and implement training programs for obese adolescents and children.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Exploring the Versatility of Motivational Interviewing

Evidence indicates that motivation early in treatment is critical to treatment outcome, and motivational interviewing (MI) has addressed this finding by helping individuals work through ambivalence about change. Not only has it demonstrated improvements in treatment outcome across treatment populations and settings, it has been adapted with success into brief motivational interventions. This special issue explores the use of MI with populations at great risk for ambivalence in therapy, including college students violating campus policy, individuals who have been trafficked, and individuals in exposure therapy. The papers further highlight the versatility of MI-based interventions, as well as their limitations, that may help inform future directions for adapting MI as we move toward digital and web-based interventions.

Brief Motivation-Based Interventions for Students Sanctioned for Violating Campus Cannabis Use Policies

College cannabis use continues to rise, yet few students voluntarily seek treatment for cannabis use, despite use-related problems. Thus, the campus judicial system may be one way to identify high-risk cannabis users and intervene with them. Despite research indicating that brief motivational interventions (BMIs) decrease risky alcohol use among students sanctioned for psychological services following campus alcohol policies violations, extant data do not support BMI for students who violate cannabis polices. Thus, the aims of this review paper are to (a) review the extant literature of BMI for cannabis use among sanctioned students, (b) discuss some unique issues concerning BMI for cannabis use, and (c) provide case examples of promising novel ways BMI may be used to address unique needs of these students. Given the wide range of cannabis use and related problems experienced by these students, personalized approaches to BMI-based interventions may improve outcomes for these students.

Increasing Patient Motivation and Adherence to Nutritional Care: The Importance to Overcome Psychological Barriers

Eating habits are inseparably linked with people’s physical and psychological health and well-being. Many factors impact on eating behavior and nutritional status in older adults. Motivational and multidisciplinary interventions have been shown to be highly effective in promoting healthy eating, especially in hospitalized patients, but are often overlooked or not considered. The aim of this chapter is to discuss how to overcome the psychological barriers that lead older patients away from an appropriate nutritional intake and the importance of motivational interventions for adherence to nutritional care, providing useful evidence and direction for further research.

Easy Task and Choice: Motivational Interventions Facilitate Motor Skill Learning in Children

Expectancies for success and autonomy support have been shown to facilitate motor learning and enhance motor performance. The purpose of the study was to examine whether we replicated (a) enhanced expectancies and autonomy support intervention enhanced motor skill learning in children, and (b) identified the underlying psychological mechanism. Sixty children kicked soccer balls with their dominant leg to a squared area target. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the four groups: enhanced expectancies and autonomy support (EE/AS), enhanced expectancies (EE), autonomy support (AS), or control (CON) groups. Participants learning the skill were or were not provided enhanced expectation instructions by making the task success easier and provided an opportunity to choose one of the three colored balls during their practice. Two days later, they performed retention and transfer tests. Results indicated that the EE/AS group had the highest scores, with main effects of autonomy support being significant and enhanced expectancies being marginally significant for the retention test and significant for the transfer test. The EE/AS group had the highest self-efficacy and perceived choice scores. Therefore, having high expectancies for success and being autonomous were important ingredients for facilitating motor skill learning in children.

Responsible Gambling Telephone Intervention to High-Risk Gamblers by a State-Owned Gambling Operator in Sweden: Study Protocol for a Study on Effectiveness, User Satisfaction, and Acceptability

Gambling disorder is associated with severe financial, social, and psychological consequences, but treatment-seeking rates have been described to be low. Apart from formal treatment, motivational interventions in nontreatment-seeking high-risk gamblers have been shown to be promising. However, little is known about the effectiveness and acceptability of such motivational interventions carried out by a gambling operator as part of the company’s responsible gambling policies. Early experiences of such interventions are limited by the risk that gambling in individuals reached with the intervention may continue with a different gambling operator. The present study aims to evaluate effectiveness and user acceptability of a responsible gambling intervention continuously carried out by the Swedish state-owned gambling operator Svenska Spel Sport & Casino. This intervention for high-risk gamblers, identified either through substantial monetary losses or through a voluntary self-test by the gambler, includes a motivational telephone intervention aiming to encourage the gambler to set deposit limits, practice self-exclusion, or seek help. This protocol paper describes the two-tailed evaluation of this intervention: (1) A retrospective, register-based study of the effectiveness of the motivational intervention on gambling expenditures, deposit limits, and self-exclusions in comparison to control individuals not reached by the intervention, including all clients reached or attempted to be reached during September 2019–April 2020 (total n = 3626), as well as a one-to-one matched comparison of clients reached (n = 1404) and not reached; and (2) a prospective web survey study in individuals reached by the same ongoing telephone intervention practice from November 2020 (target n = 200), measuring clients’ attitudes to the intervention, perceived effects of the intervention on gambling, and their self-reported gambling on all operators after the intervention.