'Now I use words like asymmetry and unstable': nurses' experiences in using a standardized assessment for motor performance within routine child health care.
OBJECTIVE
There is an increasing recognition that early intervention is important for children with motor disorders. The use of standardized assessment methods within the Swedish Child Health Services (CHS) may improve early identification of these children and thereby their development and quality of care. Given the key role of nurses within the CHS, we explored their experiences of using a structured assessment of motor performance (SOMP-I) in a clinical setting, and investigated possible barriers and facilitators for implementation of the method within the CHS.


METHODS
The study was conducted in 2013 in Uppsala County, Sweden. Ten child health nurses participated in two focus group interviews, which were analysed using systematic text condensation.


RESULTS
The analysis yielded three themes: (1) increased knowledge and professional pride - nurses described their desire to provide high-quality care for which SOMP-I was a useful tool; (2) improved parent-provider relationship - nurses felt that using SOMP-I involved both the parents and their infant to a greater extent than routine care; and (3) conditions for further implementation - nurses described that the time and effort needed to master new skills must be considered and practical barriers, such as lack of examination space, resource constraints and difficulties in documenting the assessment must be addressed before implementing the SOMP-I method in routine care.


CONCLUSIONS
Child health nurses felt that the SOMP-I method fitted well with their professional role and increased the quality of care provided. However, significant barriers to implementing SOMP-I into routine child health care were described.
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Kine
K
Johansen
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Steven
S
Lucas
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Pär
P
Bokström
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Kristina
K
Persson
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Karin
K
Sonnander
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Margaretha
M
Magnusson
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Anna
A
Sarkadi
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D000068079:Motor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors
evidence-based practice; implementation; learning; motor development; quality of care