Clinic Versus Home: Nurses' and Social Workers' Perceptions of Extended Home Visits

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to compare providers' ratings of delivery and fidelity of a post-natal extended home visiting programme within Child Health Services for visits conducted in families' homes versus the clinic setting. Methods: A retrospective quantitative study based on questionnaires (n = 3028) from child health services nurses and social workers was conducted using non-parametric tests to determine if there were any differences in professionals' perceptions of programme delivery and/or quality. Results: The results from this study indicate significant differences in professionals' perceptions of fidelity, confidence in abilities, content coverage, alliance-building, and emotional climate between home and clinic visits, with higher ratings given in all areas for visits conducted in the home. Conclusion: While clinic visits may offer certain logistical advantages for professionals and primary care clinics, they may not provide the optimal environment for delivering the programme with fidelity, which is necessary for achieving the desired outcomes for child health and family well-being. The findings need to be taken into consideration when making decisions about resource allocation for early childhood programmes aimed at equitable health for a more sustainable society.