Therapeutic effects of motivational interviewing on blood pressure control: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Yanping Ren a,b, ⁎, Hui Yang b , Colette Browning b , Shane Thomas b , Meiyan Liu c a Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, PR China b School of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3165, Australia c Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, PR China article info Article history: Received 7 January 2014 Accepted 10 January 2014 Available online 23 January 2014 Keywords: Therapeutic effects Motivational interviewing Blood pressure Meta-analysis Randomized Controlled trial Hypertension is one of the high prevalence chronic “life-related” diseases. Recommendations for hypertension management advocate combined use of pharmacotherapy and lifestyle counselling in order to achieve blood pressure control and to lower risk for cardiovascular events [1]. Meanwhile, the American Heart Association recommends clinicians using counselling interventions to promote a healthy diet and physical activity that apply two or more of the following strategies: set speci fic, proximal goals; provide feedback on progress; provide strategies for self-monitoring; establish a plan for frequency and follow-up; use motivational interviewing (MI); and build self- efficacy [2]. MI is a coherent protocol and developed to be “a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change” [3]. However, little is known about how MI exerts its antihypertensive therapeutic effects. Our study reviews randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effects of MI on blood pressure control in the population with high cardiac risks. The Study considered for inclusion met the following criteria: (i) RCT design; (ii) Adult participants (mean years ≥ 18 years) who visit ⁎ Corresponding author at: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shannxi 710061, PR China. Tel.: +61 410775506. E-mail addresses: ryp0071@126.com, yanping.ren@monash.edu (Y. Ren). a) Systolic blood pressure b) Systolic blood pressure-follow up Fig. 1. Forest plots of overall effect of MI on systolic blood pressure: (a) SBP, and (b) SBP-follow-up. 509 Letters to the Editor