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dc.contributor.authorHopper, Heather
dc.contributor.authorSkirton, Heather
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-02T15:19:30Z
dc.date.issued2016-01
dc.identifier.issn0266-6138
dc.identifier.issn1532-3099
dc.identifier.urihttp://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.extent58-65
dc.format.mediumPrint-Electronic
dc.languageen
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier BV
dc.subjectBreast feeding
dc.subjectPeer support
dc.subjectVolunteer
dc.subjectSustainability
dc.subjectQualitative
dc.titleFactors influencing the sustainability of volunteer peer support for breast-feeding mothers within a hospital environment: An exploratory qualitative study
dc.typejournal-article
dc.typeJournal Article
plymouth.author-urlhttp://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000366010300008&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=11bb513d99f797142bcfeffcc58ea008
plymouth.volume32
plymouth.publication-statusPublished
plymouth.journalMIDWIFERY
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/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.placeScotland
dcterms.dateAccepted2015-09-21
dc.rights.embargodate2017-01-01
dc.identifier.eissn1532-3099
dc.rights.embargoperiodNot known
rioxxterms.versionofrecord10.1016/j.midw.2015.09.007
rioxxterms.licenseref.urihttp://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate2016-01
rioxxterms.typeJournal Article/Review


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