Parental experiences from home visits in the New Families programme: an observational and interview study

This study aimed to explore the experiences of parents-to-be and first-time parents with home visits in the New Families programme and how these visits unfolded. The programme was introduced in the City of Oslo in 2019. It offers early support to expectant first-time parents through home visits conducted by public health nurses, starting from week 28 of pregnancy and continuing until the child is 2 years old. The family determines the frequency and content of the visits.

An interpretive description approach was utilized, adhering to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Data were collected through eight participant observations and six qualitative interviews. Seventeen parents participated in the study.

Findings indicate that expectant parents had limited knowledge of child health centre services and the public health nurse's role. Many reported not receiving timely or adequate information about the services or the purpose of the New Families home visits. Despite this, they described the visits as positive experiences, felt treated as equals, and appreciated meeting the nurse who would support them after the birth.

The content and focus of the New Families programme should be clearly communicated to expectant parents before the home visit. Some public health nurses may also benefit from greater clarity about the programme's purpose and content, which could help avoid misunderstandings among parents. Raising awareness about the purpose of home visits and providing accessible information may encourage more parents to accept the offer of a home visit.