Strategies in health‐promoting dialogues – primary healthcare nurses' perspectives – a qualitative study

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe dialogic strategies about health and lifestyle used by primary healthcare nurses (PHNs) in the Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) in Sweden. BACKGROUND: The VIP offers all citizens aged 40, 50 and 60 in Västerbotten County an individual health check-up followed by a health-promoting dialogue with a specialist PHN. Inconsistencies in previous reports of the effects of lifestyle counselling and health promotion suggest that it is important to study dialogues about health and lifestyle to understand health-promoting strategies and to highlight aspects important to improving their effects. METHOD: In 2010, we conducted in-depth interviews with ten experienced PHNs working with the VIP at eight healthcare centres in Västerbotten County, Sweden. Qualitative content analysis was used to illuminate the nurses' strategies in health-promoting dialogues. The Regional Ethics Board (Dno 06-126M) approved the study. RESULTS: The PHNs used various strategies in dialogues about health and lifestyle that fell under the five themes 'Guiding patients vs. pressuring them; Adjusting to patients vs. directing the conversation; Inspiring confidence vs. instilling fear; Motivating and supporting patients vs. demanding responsibility; and lastly, Introducing emotionally charged subjects or avoiding them'. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may add knowledge about the difficulties and opportunities in health counselling. In the discussion, we suggest professional reflection as a means to increase knowledge and awareness about the self and context in the process of health counselling.