Nurses fidelity to theory-based core components when implementing Family Health
Conversations - a qualitative inquiry
Sammanfattning
Background and aim: A family systems nursing intervention, Family Health Conversation, has been
developed in Sweden by adapting the Calgary Family Assessment and Intervention Models and the
Illness Beliefs Model. The intervention has several theoretical assumptions, and one way translate
the theory into practice is to identify core components. This may produce higher levels of fidelity to
the intervention. Besides information about how to implement an intervention in accordance to how it
was developed, evaluating whether it was actually implemented as intended is important.
Accordingly, we describe the nurses’ fidelity to the identified core components of Family Health
Conversation.
Intervention and research methods: Six nurses, working in alternating pairs, conducted Family Health
Conversations with seven families in which a family member younger than 65 had suffered a stroke.
The intervention contained a series of three-1-hour conversations held at 2–3 week intervals. The
nurses followed a conversation structure based on 12 core components identified from theoretical
assumptions. The transcripts of the 21 conversations were analysed using manifest qualitative
content analysis with a deductive approach.
Results and conclusion: The ‘core components’ seemed to be useful even if nurses’ fidelity varied
among the core components. Some components were followed relatively well, but others were not.
This indicates that the process for achieving fidelity to the intervention can be improved, and that it is
necessary for nurses to continually learn theory and to practise family systems nursing. We suggest
this can be accomplished through reflections, role play and training on the core components.
Furthermore, as in this study, joint reflections on how the core components have been implemented
can lead to deeper understanding and knowledge of how Family Health Conversation can be
delivered as intended.