In Finland, although families generally receive
support from child health clinics, some need more help in dealing with
their child's emotions, behaviour and psychosocial development. Public
health nurses play a central role in providing vital psychosocial
support for families, but they often lack the confidence and competence
to tackle mental health problems.

To describe how public health nurses used and
experienced a working model that combined a psychosocial tool (Strengths
and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ) to identify disruptive behaviour
in four‐year‐old children and an Internet‐based parent training
programme with telephone coaching.

This is a descriptive, cross‐sectional survey study.
The sample consists of public health nurses (n = 138) who were working
in child health clinics in Finland that had used the working model.
Statistical data were analysed using SPSS Statistics for Windows. The
responses to an open‐ended question were analysed using inductive
content analysis.

The experiences about the working model were mainly
positive. The public health nurses felt that the psychosocial tool, the
SDQ, was easy and suitable to use in child health clinics. The
availability of an Internet‐based parent training programme provided
greater support for parents by overcoming practical barriers. Overall,
the working model helped nurses to develop their mental health
competencies.

Within primary care, the need to tackle psychosocial
problems is increasing, and for this, public health nurses need extra
support and tools. It seems that the working model, including the SDQ
and the online and telephone coaching programme, worked well in child
health clinics. This working model can be used to provide parental
support and improve nurses' mental health competencies.