Factors influencing the sustainability of volunteer peer support for breast-feeding mothers within a hospital environment: An exploratory qualitative study
dc.contributor.author | Hopper, Heather | |
dc.contributor.author | Skirton, Heather | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2016-06-02T15:19:30Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2016-01 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0266-6138 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1532-3099 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/4812 | |
dc.description.abstract |
OBJECTIVES: the objectives of this study were to explore breast feeding peer supporters' motivation to volunteer within a hospital environment, to describe their experiences of volunteering within a hospital environment, to examine the relationships between peer supporters and ward staff, and to identify factors contributing to the future sustainability of the service. DESIGN: a qualitative study; peer supporters and clinical ward staff were interviewed using a semi-structured schedule and data were analysed using Thematic Analysis with an inductive approach. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: six peer supporters and ten ward staff, whose role included giving breast feeding support, working on a maternity ward in one consultant-led unit in England that had been hosting breast feeding peer support volunteers for the previous three years. FINDINGS: three main themes were identified: 1. What peer supporters brought to the maternity ward; this included providing breast-feeding mothers with confidence, reassurance and empowerment, and spending 'unhurried time' with mothers; 2. What motivated the peer supporters; this included an interest in midwifery as a future career and a desire to help people; 3. Factors contributing to the sustainability of the service; these included an existing rolling training programme, however recruitment processes were causing long delays and some aspects of operational management needed improvement. KEY CONCLUSIONS: individuals with a passion for breast feeding were willing to volunteer as peer supporters and their experience of the activity was positive. Organisational processes did not always provide peer supporters with a positive experience of the organisation and these needed to be improved as they contributed to the future sustainability of the service. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: the study indicates that a sustainable hospital-based volunteer service for breast feeding peer support requires a rolling training programme for peer supporters, efficient recruitment processes and effective operational management. | |
dc.format.extent | 58-65 | |
dc.format.medium | Print-Electronic | |
dc.language | en | |
dc.language.iso | en | |
dc.publisher | Elsevier BV | |
dc.subject | Breast feeding | |
dc.subject | Peer support | |
dc.subject | Volunteer | |
dc.subject | Sustainability | |
dc.subject | Qualitative | |
dc.title | Factors influencing the sustainability of volunteer peer support for breast-feeding mothers within a hospital environment: An exploratory qualitative study | |
dc.type | journal-article | |
dc.type | Journal Article | |
plymouth.author-url | http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000366010300008&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=11bb513d99f797142bcfeffcc58ea008 | |
plymouth.volume | 32 | |
plymouth.publication-status | Published | |
plymouth.journal | MIDWIFERY | |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1016/j.midw.2015.09.007 | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Faculty of Health | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Faculty of Health/School of Nursing and Midwifery | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Users by role | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Users by role/Academics | |
dc.publisher.place | Scotland | |
dcterms.dateAccepted | 2015-09-21 | |
dc.rights.embargodate | 2017-01-01 | |
dc.identifier.eissn | 1532-3099 | |
dc.rights.embargoperiod | Not known | |
rioxxterms.versionofrecord | 10.1016/j.midw.2015.09.007 | |
rioxxterms.licenseref.uri | http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved | |
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate | 2016-01 | |
rioxxterms.type | Journal Article/Review |