An exploration of the Health Visitor antenatal visit.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration of the process of the Health Visitor antenatal home visit from the perspectives and experiences of expectant parents and Health Visitors.
IRAS ID
242281
Contact name
Tina Barrows
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Stirling
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 7 months, 24 days
Research summary
There is little research about antenatal visiting by Health Visitors (HVs). New learning by observing the antenatal visit taking place and interviewing HVs and expectant parents about their experiences and thoughts will help inform HV practice in the future.
Eligible expectant parents will be over 18 years of age receiving routine midwifery care, having no additional needs that require more than routine midwifery care. They will be able to speak and read English, see and hear well and not have any mental health or other conditions that affect being able to understand or agree to take part in the study.
Practising HVs will be eligible if they undertake routine antenatal home visits to expectant parents receiving routine midwifery care.
The study will take place within HV caseloads in metropolitan and rural areas of the Highland Region of Scotland. Data will be gathered by audio recording, observing and taking notes at the antenatal home visit between the HV and expectant parents during their pregnancy. The observation lasts approximately 1 hour.
Audio recorded interviews with the same HVs and expectant parents take place within a few days of the observation at a place of their choosing or by telephone. There are no fixed questions, so they can talk openly about their experiences and what their thoughts are. The interview lasts approximately 45 minutes.
An audio recorded follow up telephone call of no more than 10 minutes may occur for clarity of any issues from the observation or interview.
The study will be completed over 3 years and involve up to 15 expectant women, and partners of expectant women if present, and HVs. Participants are involved in the study for a maximum of 3 months and may access a lay summary report, conference presentations, and journal articles once published if they wish.REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
18/NS/0144
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jan 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion