Are health visitors ’ observations of early parent–infant interactions reliable? a cross‐sectional design

ABSTRACT Health visitors need competences to promote healthy early parent–infant relationships. The aims of this study were to explore whether there are differences between groups of health visitors with and without additional parenting program education in terms of their knowledge of infant–parent interaction and their observation and assessment skills of such interactions. The cross‐sectional study included 36 health visitors’ certified Marte Meo therapists and 85 health visitors without additional parenting program education. Health visitors’ observation skills were measured assessing five video‐recorded mother–infant interactions. A questionnaire was used to measure their intention, self‐efficacy, and knowledge. More certified Marte Meo therapists than health visitors without additional parenting program education reported a significantly higher mean level of knowledge of the early relationship, 6.42 (95% CI; 6.18–6.66) versus 5.05 (95% CI; 4.86–6.10), p = .04; and more certified Marte Meo therapists than health visitors without additional parenting program education reported a higher mean level of knowledge of infant self‐regulation, 2.44 (95% CI; 2.18–2.71) versus 1.83 (95% CI; 1.62–2.03), p < .001. In the latter group, 54% (95% CI; 0.43–0.64) reported a significantly higher need for further education versus 22% (95% CI; 0.11–0.39), p = .001. Compared to health visitors without any parenting program education, health visitors certified a...
Source: Infant Mental Health Journal - Category: Child Development Authors: Tags: ARTICLE Source Type: research