At home with clients: a study of health visiting expertise

Author: Bryans, Alison

Source: Community Practitioner, Volume 78, Number 10, October 2005 , pp. 358-362(5)

Publisher: Community Practitioner

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Abstract:

This paper describes the methods and some findings of a qualitative study of domiciliary health visiting practice undertaken in central Scotland between 2000 and 2002. The study aimed to describe the health visiting expertise used in assessing and responding to client needs during home visits. An unusual combination of methods was used, including simulated visits to two actress-clients, post-simulation interviews and subsequent observation of participants' actual practice. This combination of methods produced rich and complex data about this area of practice. The study findings which are described in this paper relate to the nature and range of client needs addressed during visits, to the two distinct practitioner approaches which were identified and to how these two approaches were related to the main focus of the visits. Other findings are outlined and the study's limitations and recommendations are briefly addressed.

Keywords: HEALTH-VISITING EXPERTISE; CLIENT-CENTRED ASSESSMENT; MICRO-PROCESSESS; REFLEXIVE PRACTICE

Document Type: Research article

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