Abstract
Objective
To explore the current practice and perceptions of health visitors in supporting multiple birth families.
Design and sample
Practicing health visitors across the United Kingdom were invited to complete a cross-sectional, descriptive, online survey. The questionnaire covered multiple birth caseload, education received about multiples and the experience of working with families. Two-hundred and ninety health visitors completed the questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis of the quantitative components and thematic analysis for the qualitative data.
Results
Most health visitors had twins on their current workload. Most health visitors had not received any specific training or continuing professional development regarding the needs of multiple birth families. Supporting the families within the confines of reduced time and increased workload was challenging. Daily tasks of caring for multiples were the main areas that health visitors and parents wanted more information about.
Conclusions
In the United Kingdom, health visitors are uniquely positioned to support multiple birth families, in particular during the more challenging early years. However, the findings of this study suggest that many health visitors are aware that the care and support that they are able to provide multiple birth families falls short of meeting their needs
To explore the current practice and perceptions of health visitors in supporting multiple birth families.
Design and sample
Practicing health visitors across the United Kingdom were invited to complete a cross-sectional, descriptive, online survey. The questionnaire covered multiple birth caseload, education received about multiples and the experience of working with families. Two-hundred and ninety health visitors completed the questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis of the quantitative components and thematic analysis for the qualitative data.
Results
Most health visitors had twins on their current workload. Most health visitors had not received any specific training or continuing professional development regarding the needs of multiple birth families. Supporting the families within the confines of reduced time and increased workload was challenging. Daily tasks of caring for multiples were the main areas that health visitors and parents wanted more information about.
Conclusions
In the United Kingdom, health visitors are uniquely positioned to support multiple birth families, in particular during the more challenging early years. However, the findings of this study suggest that many health visitors are aware that the care and support that they are able to provide multiple birth families falls short of meeting their needs
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 229-237 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Public Health Nursing |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 10 Nov 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We wish to thank the Burdett Trust for Nursing for the funding in support of this study, Dr Cheryll Adams and the Communications Team from the Institute of Health Visiting and the health visitors for taking the time to complete the survey.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Public Health Nursing published by Wiley Periodicals LLC
Keywords
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- General Nursing
- twins
- triplets
- multiple births
- public health nursing
- families
- health visiting
- parents
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Nursing(all)
