Application of solution-focused interventions to nurse home visitation for pregnant women and parents of young children

This article describes the recent evolution of a component of the theoretical foundations of a program of prenatal and early childhood home visitation tested in three randomized trials during the past two decades, first in Elmira, New York then in Memphis, Tennessee, and most recently in Denver, Colorado. We discuss the use of a solution-focused approach by the nurse home visitors in further operationalizing that component of the program model which promotes client self-efficacy We delineate the advantages of the solution-focused approach over a problem-solving approach in dealing with family concerns as well as the promotion of positive health behaviors. Basic assumptions of the solution-focused approach, techniques to facilitate solution-focused interactions, and illustrative application of solution focused interactions with pregnant women and parents of young children are presented. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.