During the pandemic, nurse availability and increased workloads highlighted the issue of time in relation to mother-child care at the CISSS de Laval’s Continuum Mère-Enfant. Parent education is a big part of this workload. It became necessary to optimize how care was provided, particularly regarding family education, while still maintaining the level of quality. This education helps parents adapt to their new role and, because it is delivered in a caring manner, it reduces stress and harmful effects of fatigue, and improves parents’ behaviour toward their newborns.

It therefore made sense update the teaching method by integrating an empowerment approach. Empowerment has a positive effect on the adjustment to parenthood. The use of QR codes promotes this kind self-reliance in health care.

The project involves providing families with a series of QR codes that give them access to learning videos. After the parents have viewed the video, a nurse will initiate a discussion focusing on the family’s needs as they relate to the video’s learning objectives. This way of teaching allows families to take charge of their learning by choosing when to view the videos and which topics best meet their needs.

The nurses all agreed that the use of the QR codes reduced their workload. Families are delighted and satisfied with this approach that focuses on self-reliance.

Project submitted by Valérie Daigle, Nursing Consultant

Other contributors: Paméla Dufort, Nurse, Nursing Consultant, Continuum Mère-Enfant; Andréanne Bergeron, Nursing Consultant, Continuum Mère-Enfant; Sophie Belzile, Clinical Consultant, Youth Program; Marie-Claude Fafard, Area Manager, Continuum Mère-Enfant