Supporting workforce practice change: protocol for a pilot study of a motivational interviewing virtual client software tool for health professionals.

Introduction: Motivating behavioural change during client consultations is of crucial importance across all health professions to address the growing burden of chronic conditions. Yet health professionals often lack the skills and confidence to use evidence-based counselling interventions to support clients' behavioural change and mobilise clients' resources and self-efficacy for change to address their long-term needs.

Aims: This pre-post pilot study will develop a motivational interviewing (MI) virtual client training tool for health professionals and test the effectiveness of the educational content and usability of the virtual client interaction.