Health counselling: parental-oriented health dialogue -- an innovation for child health nurses.

The Health Curve, used by nurses in community-based health care, is an educational tool for conducting goal-directed dialogues concerning lifestyle and health. The aim of this study was to investigate how child health nurses experienced the Health Curve as a tool for conducting dialogues with parents. Fourteen nurses were interviewed. The data were analysed according to qualitative analysis. The results showed that nurses working in child health care experienced the Health Curve as a useful tool for conducting health dialogues with parents. Through their work with the Health Curve, the nurses gained a greater insight into, and understanding of, the families' health and life situation. The results indicated that working with the Health Curve could increase the opportunity for nurses to provide parents with support early in the process, helping the family to lead a healthy lifestyle.