2025 Volume 28 Issue 3 Pages 12-20
Objective: To elucidate the practical knowledge that expert municipal public health nurses use in supporting difficult-to-respond-to child abuse cases.
Methods: Fourteen expert municipal public health nurses from municipalities near the Tokyo metropolitan area were recruited using snowball sampling. We asked the participants to provide a detailed, chronological explanation of how they assessed difficult cases and provided effective support, focusing on their practical knowledge. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and the data were analyzed qualitatively using a descriptive qualitative analysis method.
Results: The analysis showed five categories of practical knowledge used by expert municipal public health nurses in support of difficult-to-respond-to child abuse cases: “Become a trustworthy presence for parents,” “Make parents view the perceived benefits of engaging with public health nurses,” “Understanding the father and identifying a breakthrough for resolution,” “Assessing the relationship with biological family members and engaging when foresight,” and “Enhancing teamwork among supporters”.
Discussion: Drawing on practical knowledge gained from supporting difficult-to-respond-to child abuse cases, expert municipal public health nurses, focusing on trust and perceived benefits, effectively building relationships with parents. Additionally, initiatives targeting fathers and biological parents, which were identified in this study, have suggested the potential to expand efforts to prevent child abuse. Expert municipal public health nurses play a key role in fostering collaborative relationships and enhancing the effectiveness of team-based support. Their practical knowledge focuses on trust with parents, families, and supporters while emphasizing involvement that is situationally responsive and empowers them to take initiative, rather than instructing or persuading them.
