3 research outputs found
Investigating group-based classes (‘weaning workshops’) to support complementary infant feeding in Irish primary care settings: a cross-sectional survey
Objective: This study aims to (1) investigate current practice regarding ‘weaning workshops’ to support complementary infant feeding delivered within Irish primary care,
(2) explore the experiences and opinions of community dietitians regarding optimal content and modes of delivery of weaning workshops and (3) identify the key factors to be considered in the development and implementation of weaning workshops delivered within primary care. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Irish primary care. Participants: Forty-seven community-based dietitians. Results: Sixteen dietitians reported that workshops were run in their area with variable frequency, with ten reporting that workshops were never run in their area. Participants reported that mostly mothers of medium socio-economic status (SES) attended weaning workshops when infants were aged between 4 and 7 months, and that feedback from workshop attendees was predominantly positive. Dietitians identified that key factors to be considered in future development and delivery of weaning workshops are (1) workshop characteristics such as content, timing and venue, (2) organisational characteristics such as availability of resources and multidisciplinary involvement and (3) attendee characteristics such as SES.
Conclusions: This study highlights substantial variability regarding provision of weaning workshops in Ireland, and a lack of standardisation regarding the provider, content and frequency of workshops where workshops are being delivered. The study also provides unique insights into the experiences and opinions of primary care community dietitians regarding the development and delivery of weaning workshops in terms of optimal content and delivery options. These perspectives will make a valuable contribution given the dearth of evidence in this area internationall
Exploring healthcare professionals’ views of the acceptability of delivering interventions to promote healthy infant feeding practices within primary care: a qualitative interview study
Objective: Early-life nutrition plays a key role in establishing healthy lifestyles and preventing chronic disease. This study aimed to (1) explore healthcare professionals’ (HCP) opinions on the acceptability of and factors influencing the delivery of interventions to promote healthy infant feeding behaviours within primary care and (2) identify proposed barriers/enablers to delivering such interventions during vaccination visits, to inform the development of a childhood obesity prevention interventio
Choosing healthy eating for infant health (CHErIsH) study: protocol for a feasibility study
Introduction Childhood obesity is a public health
challenge. There is evidence for associations between
parents’ feeding behaviours and childhood obesity
risk. Primary care provides a unique opportunity for
delivery of infant feeding interventions for childhood
obesity prevention. Implementation strategies are
needed to support infant feeding intervention delivery.
The Choosing Healthy Eating for Infant Health (CHErIsH)
intervention is a complex infant feeding intervention
delivered at infant vaccination visits, alongside a
healthcare professional (HCP)-level implementation
strategy to support delivery.
Methods and analysis This protocol provides a
description of a non-randomised feasibility study of an
infant feeding intervention and implementation strategy,
with an embedded process evaluation and economic
evaluation. Intervention participants will be parents
of infants aged ≤6 weeks at recruitment, attending
a participating HCP in a primary care practice. The
intervention will be delivered at the infant’s 2, 4, 6, 12
and 13month vaccination visits and involves brief verbal
infant feeding messages and additional resources,
including a leaflet, magnet, infant bib and sign-posting
to an information website. The implementation strategy
encompasses a local opinion leader, HCP training delivered
prior to intervention delivery, electronic delivery prompts
and additional resources, including a training manual,
poster and support from the research team. An embedded
mixed-methods process evaluation will examine the
acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, the
implementation strategy and study processes including
data collection. Qualitative interviews will explore parent
and HCP experiences and perspectives of delivery
and receipt of the intervention and implementation
strategy. Self-report surveys will examine fidelity of
delivery and receipt, and acceptability, suitability and
comprehensiveness of the intervention, implementation
strategy and study processes. Data from electronic
delivery prompts will also be collected to examine
implementation of the intervention. A cost–outcome
description will be conducted to measure costs of the
intervention and the implementation strategy.
Ethics and dissemination This study received approval
from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Cork Teaching Hospitals. Study findings will be disseminated via
peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations