The roles and competencies of welfare commissioners supporting children with developmental disorders and their families expected by Japan’s public health nurses

Background: Public Health Nurses (PHNs) collaborate with community volunteer welfare
commissioners to support children with developmental disorders and their families lead a life
without isolation.
Objective: This study aims to clarify the roles and competencies that PHNs expect of welfare
commissioners in supporting children with developmental disorders and their families.
Methods: An online survey was administered through Survey Monkey© to 220 PHNs working
in Japanese municipalities using an independently developed questionnaire regarding the
roles and competencies of welfare commissioners supporting children with developmental
disorders and their families expected by PHNs. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was
performed to simplify the data structure and enhance understanding. The reliability of the scale
was confirmed using Cronbach’s α. Differences due to PHN attributes (e.g., experience
collaborating with welfare commissioners) were analyzed using Welch’s t-test. This study was
conducted between April and September 2021.
Results: The highest scoring items were, for the role, “a welfare commissioner’s role is to
pass on accurate information to their successor,” and for competencies, “a necessary
competency for a welfare commissioner is to protect the information about children with
developmental disorders, and their families learned during one’s work.” The EFA results
revealed a two-factor structure for role items: Factor 1, “Supporting children with
developmental disorders and their families and preventing abuse,” and Factor 2, “Connecting
to social resources.” Competency items were also found to have a two-factor structure: Factor
1, “Understanding the position of children with developmental disorders and their families and
connecting with local residents,” and Factor 2, “Understanding developmental disorders and
supporting them based on assessment.” A comparison of the attributes of PHNs showed no
significant differences.
Conclusion: PHNs feel welfare commissioners should pass on the information and protect
confidentiality when supporting children with developmental disorders and their families.
Furthermore, PHNs expect welfare commissioners to connect children with developmental
disorders and their families to the community, prevent abuse, and provide support based on
assessment. PHNs had the same expectations regarding the roles and competencies of
welfare commissioners regardless of their own attributes.