Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Health Care Sciences
Department of Nursing Science
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
While evidence confirms that developmental surveillance should be incorporated into the ongoing health care of the infant, such services are not consistently provided in health care settings and, if provided, its delivery suffers from significant inadequacies. A case study strategy was used to investigate the phenomenon and content analysis utilised to analyse the data. The transactional model of development was selected to interpret the data obtained in the study. Findings of the study showed that infant developmental care was not included to its fullest potential in the health care delivered to infants and their families, thereby indicating that community nurses do not meet the standards of the profession with regard to the management of infant developmental needs. Health service managers need to review their commitment and type of support to community nurses if infant developmental care, as part of community nurses' responsibilities, is to be effective and of high quality. Furthermore, community nurses and other health care professionals must recognise the nature and potential of inter-professional collaboration to ensure positive outcomes for infants with developmental delays and disabilities. The researcher developed a set of guidelines (DEFINE HOPE) aimed at improving the quality of developmental care for infants and their families. As guidelines help to translate scientific information into statements, it could be valuable to community nurses to improve their delivery of developmental care
Contact person: Dr R Leech.
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