Child-health nurses' experiences from using pictorial support with families within child-health services in Sweden.

Abstract

To gain insight into child-health nurses' experiences of using pictorial support in health visits within child-health services. A qualitative study involving interviews conducted with 17 child-health nurses in Sweden. The interview data were analysed using content analysis. The nurses experienced that pictorial support could facilitate communication with families and increase opportunities for children to participate in child-health services, although it may come with challenges. This theme can be broken down into three main categories: (1) Pictorial support makes interaction with families clearer and easier and is used in different ways; (2) The design and extensiveness of the pictorial support can create obstacles; and (3) Pictorial support influences children's attitudes towards, and participation in, health visits. Pictorial support is an important and useful tool in child-health nurses' own work and improves their communication with children and caregivers during health visits. It can also increase children's participation and help them express themselves. Communicative tools such as pictorial support are very helpful to healthcare professionals striving to offer child- and family-centred care.