Refocusing health visiting -- sharpening the vision and facilitating the process.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore the development of public health nursing in a primary care trust that focused around the evaluation of a newly introduced public health nursing role. The intention was to inform role development during the three year evaluation period.


BACKGROUND
Despite health visitors having been identified in the recent past as being in prime position to assume the public health role envisioned by the British Government in the New NHS, the vision for the 'new look' health visitor has been rather blurred.


METHODS
An action research approach utilised 22 individual and four group (number of participants 33) interviews with a range of stakeholders. Thematic analysis was used on all transcripts.


RESULTS
Four main headings were identified to organise and present the findings -- definitions of public health; continuum of practice; contextual factors in public health development; and inhibitors to public health practice development. The findings suggest that there are a number of factors challenging the health visiting response to the public health agenda. Facilitating clarity of role and purpose must be a management priority. A tool, developed from this study, offers a means to explore practice within a primary care -- public health continuum and provides a schema against which to set and action practice development.
Carr
Susan M
SM
Northumbria University, Benton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. sue.carr@northumbria.ac.uk
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D017144:Focus Groups; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom