ObjectiveTo explore the impact of nursing communication based on motivational interviews on examination compliance in patients with chronic cough.MethodsA total of 206 patients with chronic cough admitted to the department of respiratory medicine in Tai’an 88th Hospital from March 2023 to March 2025 were enrolled in this study. They were randomly allocated into observation group and control group using a random number table method, with 103 cases in each group. The control group received routine health education, while the observation group was additionally provided with a nursing communication intervention based on motivational interviewing for 4 consecutive weeks. Comparisons between the two groups were performed on the overall examination compliance rate, the illness perception questionnaire revised (IPQ-R) scores, and the improvement in cough-related symptoms.ResultsCompared with the control group, the observation group had a significantly higher overall compliance rate (P＜0.05), the observation group had significantly higher scores in both the illness coherence dimension and the treatment control dimension after the intervention (all P＜0.05), and a significantly higher effective rate of cough improvement (P＜0.05).ConclusionThe nursing communication model based on motivational interviews can effectively improve the examination compliance of patients with chronic cough, enhance their disease awareness, and promote the improvement of cough symptoms.