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Published on: January 23, 2017
Evaluation of a health visitor-led sleep and behaviour clinic
1ruth.merrifield@swlondon.nhs.uk
Insights
A new health visitor-led clinic effectively addresses persistent childhood behavior problems in young children. The specialized approach improved child behavior and was well-received by diverse parent groups.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Behavioral problems in children aged 0-5 are common and can persist, potentially leading to later health issues.
- Health visitors and nursery nurses typically provide initial support for these difficulties.
- A need exists for specialized interventions when standard support is insufficient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a new, second-tier health visitor-led sleep and behavior clinic.
- To assess the clinic's feasibility, effectiveness, and client satisfaction.
- To determine if behavior therapy in a community setting is a viable resource.
Main Methods:
- The study evaluated a health visitor-led clinic offering behavior therapy for specific parenting difficulties.
- Evaluation included an audit of clinic activities, parental perception of behavioral change, and client satisfaction.
- The intervention utilized a partnership approach with parents, focusing on dialogue and action planning.
Main Results:
- The clinic was found to be acceptable to parents from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds.
- Parental reports indicated success in improving young children's behavior.
- The study suggests the clinic is a feasible development within existing community resources.
Conclusions:
- A specialist health visitor-led clinic offering behavior therapy is a feasible and effective model.
- This approach can successfully address persistent childhood behavior problems.
- The clinic model is acceptable across diverse populations and can be implemented within current resources.
Abstract:
Behaviour problems in children aged 0-5 are common and distressing; given a tendency to persist, early behaviour problems also foreshadow later ill-health. Reliance tends to be placed upon the health visitors and nursery nurse to provide advice and support to those experiencing difficulties with young children. This paper describes the evaluation of a new, second tier health visitor-led sleep and behaviour clinic in one inner London borough, introduced for those whose difficulties persist despite support from agencies such as Sure Start and Newpin and initial advice from health visitors and nursery nurses. The theoretical framework underpinning the initiative is behavioural and intervention is offered to those seeking help with a relatively specific parenting difficulty. Behaviour therapy involves working in partnership with the parent(s)/client, assessing and meeting needs through dialogue and action planning while providing appropriate advice and support. The therapy is consistent with the health visitor approach. Evaluation focused upon three aspects: audit of the clinic activities, effectiveness of the intervention according to parental perception of change in the child's behaviour and client satisfaction with the service. Findings suggest that the clinic is acceptable to parents of a wide variety of social and ethnic groups and successful in improving the behaviour of young children. This small study suggests that a specialist health visitor-led clinic offering behaviour therapy within a community setting represents a feasible development that is within the scope of existing resources.
