ABSTRACT Objective To describe implementation of family‐centered care in maternal and child health (MCH) nursing services, before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Sample Forty MCH Nurse coordinators of services providing population‐wide, free, preventative health care for children aged 0–5 years and their families throughout Victoria, Australia. Design Cross‐sectional survey conducted in early 2021. Study‐developed and validated tools, adapted to context, were used to explore family‐centered care in 2019 and during pandemic disruptions in 2020. Descriptive analysis compared service structures, local adaptations, and ways of working. Results Participants reported shifting to telehealth, shorter and fewer face‐to‐face consultations, reduced flexibility, and disruptions to parent groups and other community strengthening activities. Family‐centered care scores were lower during the pandemic when services needed to prioritize most vulnerable children and families. Conclusion While family‐centered care is evident throughout MCH policy and practice, there is scope for improvement. Key learnings, including new technologies and ways of working, are likely to guide future policy and practice. Local variations in service provision and community needs should be considered when evaluating, and exploring options for, preventative health care of children in the future.
Ridgway et al. (Fri,) studied this question.