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

A collaborative approach to developing sustainable behaviour change interventions for childhood obesity prevention: Development of the Choosing Healthy Eating for Infant Health (CHErIsH) intervention and implementation strategy

Objectives and Design There is growing recognition of the need for effective behaviour change interventions to prevent chronic diseases that are feasible and sustainable and can be implemented within routine health care systems. Focusing on implementation from the outset of intervention development, and incorporating multiple stakeholder perspectives to achieve this, is therefore essential. This study explores the development of the Choosing Healthy Eating for Infant Health (CHErIsH) childhood obesity prevention intervention and implementation strategy to improve infant feeding behaviours. Methods Five qualitative and quantitative evidence syntheses, two primary qualitative studies, and formal/informal consultations were conducted with practice, policy, research, and parent stakeholders. The Behaviour Change Wheel was used to guide the integration of findings. Results The CHErIsH intervention targets parent‐level behaviour change and comprises (1) brief verbal messages and (2) trustworthy resources, to be delivered by health care professionals (HCPs) during routine infant vaccination visits. The implementation strategy targets HCP‐level behaviour change and comprises (1) a local opinion leader, (2) incentivized training, (3) HCP resources and educational materials, (4) electronic delivery prompts, (5) awareness‐raising across all primary care HCPs, and (6) local technical support. Conclusions This study provides a rigorous example of the development of an evidence‐based intervention aimed at improving parental infant feeding behaviours, alongside an evidence‐based behaviour change strategy to facilitate implementation and sustainability in primary care. This approach demonstrates how to systematically incorporate multiple stakeholder perspectives with existing literature and move from multiple evidence sources to clearly specified intervention components for both the intervention and implementation strategy