Abstract
Summary
• This paper presents one aspect of a larger study the aim of which was to explore and describe the extent to which clients participate in family health-promotion encounters with health visitors.
• The health visitor–client interaction during a home visit was seen to be the most appropriate setting in which to carry out the study.
• Analysis of 62 tape-recorded interactions and 75 paired interviews revealed that client participation is rarely initiated by the client or elicited by the health visitor.
• This has implications for the future education and practice of health visitors when they are being asked to take a more empowering approach to health promotion.