The experience of collaboration: a comparison of health visiting in Scotland and Norway

This investigation compared health visiting in Scotland and Norway by focusing on collaboration in health visiting. The data are based upon in-depth interviews with a non-probability sample, with voluntary participation of nine health visitors from Scotland and 12 health visitors from Norway. The results showed that there were more similarities than differences between the Scottish and Norwegian health visitors' experience of collaboration in their work. Both groups had a complex role-set and experienced dependency on role partners. Collaborative strain was experienced through lack of recognition and system deficiencies. Tensions in collaboration evolved from the definition and question of responsibility in grey areas, jurisdictional threats and conflicts. Within these areas the degree and importance of collaboration differed. The Scottish health visitors were more dependent on client referrals to them and their referrals to other agencies, whereas the Norwegians health visitors experienced an asymmetrical relationship, as they were more dependent on the capacity of the agency to accept the referrals. Lack of recognition seemed to be a stronger experience in Norway than in Scotland. All of this had a marked influence on the performance of the health visitors. Further research should address the question of collaboration in health visiting work and to what degree it influences the quality of health visiting and consequences for clients, the community and health visiting service.