Introduction: In the Greater Eastern region of France, a primary prevention intervention in perinatal care has shown promising results on child development. In order to make this intervention transferable and sustainable outside a research context, it was adapted into a universal family health program. The PERL (Petite Enfance Recherche-action en Lorraine: early childhood research-action in Lorraine) research-action aimed to evaluate the effects of this new intervention.
Method: The objective of the article was to present the intervention logic of the PERL program, based on the evaluation of processes and mechanisms (2018-2019). The method was based on 18 semi-structured interviews with actors involved in the construction and implementation of PERL, and a consultation process.
Results: Supported by the Maternal and Child Protection services (PMI), PERL is a program based on home visits by nurses, analysis of practices and supervision. In contrast to a standardized or an injunctive perspective, the approach recognizes and supports the parent as an expert of his or her own child. The importance of supervision in facilitating the adoption of an unconditional benevolent posture and the professional development of nurses confronted with complex situations is one of the cornerstones of the system.
Conclusions: PERL is a structured and non-standardized parenting support program, based on strong health promotion concepts. This evaluation underlines the importance and challenges of having a shared vision of the intervention logic. In the perspective of the deployment and transfer of PERL, it will be necessary to adapt the system to the contexts and territories. In this perspective, an implementation guide has been produced.