Swedish parents' satisfaction and experience of facilitators and barriers with Family Check‐up

A mixed methods study

Bibliographic Data

ID21391820
AuthorsJulie S Lundgren (0000-0002-3167-3190, Child and Youth Health Specialty Services, Center for Progress in Children's Mental Health Regionhälsan, Region Västra Götaland Gothenburg Sweden, corresponding author), Jennie Ryding (0000-0001-6267-5802, Department of Social and Behavioural Studies University West Trollhättan Sweden), Ata Ghaderi (0000-0001-8483-7964, Department of Clinical Neuroscience Karolinska Institute Stockholm Sweden), Susanne Bernhardsson (0000-0001-8212-7678, Research, Education, Development and Innovation Primary Health Care Regionhälsan, Region Västra Götaland Gothenburg Sweden)
Year2023
Volume64
Issue5
Pages618-631
Publication date2023-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScandinavian Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-5564 • E-ISSN: 1467-9450
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/sjop.12913
PMID36891962
OpenAlexW4323652319
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited55

Family Check‐up (FCU) was introduced in Sweden more than a decade ago. Little is known about what parents experience as FCU's key mechanisms leading to changes in parenting. The aim of this study was to investigate Swedish parents' satisfaction with FCU, and their experiences of facilitators and barriers for making changes in their parenting. A mixed methods approach was employed using a parent satisfaction questionnaire ( n = 77) and focus groups ( n = 15). General satisfaction with FCU was adequate, with an average rating of 4 on a five‐point scale (range 3.1–4.6). The analysis of quantitative and qualitative data resulted in eight themes representing facilitators and four themes representing barriers, organized into three categories: (1) access and engagement; (2) therapeutic process; and (3) program components. Ease of access to FCU facilitated initial engagement. Individual tailoring and access to FCU during different phases of change facilitated sustained engagement and change. Therapeutic process facilitators were a meaningful, supportive relationship with the provider, psychological benefits for parents and benefits for the whole family. Program components that facilitated change in parenting were new learning of parenting strategies and use of helpful techniques such as videotaping and home practice. Negative experiences with service systems prior to starting FCU, parent psychological barriers, and parent‐provider mismatch were described as potential barriers. Some parents desired other program formats that were not offered, and some felt that new learning was insufficient to improve child behavior. Understanding the parent perspective can contribute to successful future work with implementing FCU

Developmental psychology · Focus group · Intervention (counseling) · Parent training · Perspective (graphical) · Psychiatry · Qualitative property · Service (business) · Service delivery framework · Service provider · Applied Psychology · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Family and Disability Support Research · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Psychology · Social Psychology