School of Nursing and Midwifery Scholarly Impact Report 2021

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CATHERINE MCAULEY SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY, UCC

TRANSLATING EVIDENCE & INNOVATION FOR HEALTH

Highlights • PEEB seeks to enhance the practice of exclusive breastfeeding through Participatory Action Research priniciples, by guiding stakeholders to instigate change from within their respective organisations. • Breastfeeding support must be multifaceted, and this study explores staff knowledge, attitudes and skills, as well as policy and envirnomental factors.

Practice Enhancement for Exclusive Breastfeeding (PEEB) HRB APA 2019-029 The School of Nursing andMidwifery are workingwith hospital, general practice and primary care settings to enhance the practice of exclusive breastfeeding and improve the supports available to women who wish to breastfeed. The project is jointly funded by the Health Research Board (HRB) with support from the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Unit South (NMPDU-S) and the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG). Despite the extensive health, economic and environmental benefits of breastfeeding, Ireland’s breastfeeding rates remain amongst the lowest in Europe. The National Maternity Strategy reported inconsistent and contradictory advice in relation to breastfeeding support, and a disconnect in communication during transition of care.

Breastfeeding interventions need to be multifaceted, in order to effectively support women and their partners throughout pregnancy and to three months postpartum.

PEEB employs Participatory Action Research methodology, and is utilising Work Based Learning Groups (WBLGs) to internally instigate and drive change across the participating sites.

Lead and Team Members

Co-Principal Investigators: Professor Patricia Leahy-Warren, School of Nursing and Midwifery and Ms. Sandra O’Connor, Director of Midwifery at University Hospital Kerry Co-applicants: Professor Colin Bradley, Dr Helen Mulcahy, Dr Catherine Buckley, Dr Elaine Lehane, Professor Bridie O Sullivan, Dr Paul Hughes, Professor Virginia Schmied, Mrs Helen Sweeney, Mrs Maire O’Leary, Dr Akhtar Khan. Collaborators: Ms Anne Walsh, Dr Eleanor Johnson, Dr Rhona O’Connell, Dr Margaret Murphy, Ms. Omana Paul, Ms. Elizabeth Heffernan Senior Post-Doctoral Researcher: Dr Michelle O’Driscoll

L-R: Ms Mairead O’Sullivan, Infant Feeding Co-Ordinator, University Hospital Kerry; Prof Patricia Leahy Warren, PEEB Co-Principal Investigator, School of Nursing and Midwifery UCC; Ms Sandra O’Connor, PEEB Co-Principal Investigator and Director of Midwifery, University Hospital Kerry; Dr Michelle O’Driscoll, PEEB Senior Post-Doctoral Researcher, School of Nursing and Midwifery UCC