Reducing infection transmission in the playroom: Balancing patient safety and family-centered care

Barriers to optimal breastfeeding of medically complex children in the UK paediatric setting: a mixed methods survey of healthcare professionals

BACKGROUND

Breastfeeding is indisputably significant for infants and children, as well as their mothers. However, when breastfed children are admitted to the paediatric ward, they may experience breastfeeding modification due to clinical challenges, lack of staff training and institutional barriers. Although previous research has identified multiple barriers to optimal feeding within the maternity, neonatal and community settings, we know less about the barriers that exist in paediatrics. Paediatric healthcare staff attitudes, training and awareness as well as ward culture are likely to have an impact on the experiences of families but are relatively unresearched in the paediatric setting, especially with regard to the multidisciplinary nature of clinical paediatric care. The aim of this study was to explore the attitudes, awareness and perceived barriers to effective breastfeeding support provision, as well as healthcare professional perception of barriers for families.

METHODS

This was a mixed methods study utilising a questionnaire which was completed by 409 healthcare professionals who identified as working within the paediatric setting. It included responses from paediatricians of all training grades, nurses, healthcare assistants and allied health professionals. Qualitative data from professionals were analysed to develop themes around professional and perceived parent barriers to optimal breastfeeding.

RESULTS

This study explored the barriers experienced by staff, as well as professionals' perception of parent barriers. These included lack of knowledge of how to help, a default formula culture, the pressure of maintaining strict fluid balance and breastfeeding being a low priority in the face of critical illness. Of the paediatric departments represented by this sample of healthcare professionals, most had a relatively poor culture of supporting breastfeeding, with multiple institutional barriers identified. Most professionals felt that there was not enough support for breastfeeding families on an average shift, and a large proportion identified as being one of just a few breastfeeding advocates on their ward.

CONCLUSION

In this relatively motivated and experienced sample of healthcare professionals, there were many identified barriers to optimal breastfeeding which could potentially be addressed by training that is carefully nuanced for the paediatric population. Ensuring that paediatric multidisciplinary healthcare professionals have sufficient skills and knowledge would address the identified challenge of poor awareness of breastfeeding and of how to overcome clinical lactation obstacles. Further improvements at policy level need to address the systemic lack of resourcing in paediatrics, as well as the lack of embedded breastfeeding-friendly organisational structures.

Person-Centered-Care Climate in a Tertiary Hospital: Staff Perspective

Introduction

Most health care systems strive to improve the quality, safety and value of healthcare, with an emphasis on moving towards patient-centered care/person-centered care (PCC) approach. The aim of the current study was to assess health care providers’ perspectives on PCC climate in hospital setting and to identify the role of providers in determining the perception of the PCC climate.

Methods

A survey, using person-centered climate questionnaire-staff version, was employed in health care providers of a tertiary care hospital. Data included variables age, gender, education level, occupation, and years of experience and three PCC dimensions. PCC overall and subscale scores were reported as mean and standard deviation. Factors associated with PCC climate perception were analyzed using a Poisson model.

Results

Out of 1216 respondents; the majority 47% aged between 18 and 34 years; 79% women, 68% were nurses. The overall mean score was 45.96±15.36 (range 0–70). Subscale scores were Safety 20.15±5.0 (range 0–30), Everydayness 12.02±3.52 (range 0–20) and Community 13.79±3.34 (range 0–20). Increasing age was a significant factor associated with PCC scores for the overall, safety, everydayness, and community scales, with a positive association. Lower scores were reported more by women compared with men, for overall (p=0.0005), and everydayness (p=0.006) scales. Higher safety scores were reported by health care providers with a diploma compared to master’s degree (p=0.009), Ph.D. (p=0.007), for technicians compared with nurses (p=0.007), and for day shift compared with day/night shift workers (p=0.025). PCC scores were not significantly different across health care providers’ years of experience.

Conclusion

There is a room for PCC climate improvement based on the low scores compared to the literature. The study findings indicated that the main factors associated with HCPs’ perception of PCC were higher age and female gender, and these factors would benefit from further research.

Breastfeeding the Critically Unwell Child: A Call to Action

Introduction

Breastfeeding rates among children who have a serious illness or congenital condition are lower than the general population. There are many barriers to maintaining lactation during a child's illness, and specific training issues among staff working in pediatric departments.

Method

This is a narrative review of some of the most common challenges highlighted during a literature search prior to a research study that is being undertaken to explore this phenomenon in greater detail.

Results

There are many identified challenges for families of sick children. Lactation may be threatened or discontinued if the barriers are not adequately addressed. Lactation professionals working in any setting may work with families who are coping with difficulties that require more support.

Conclusion

Breastfeeding sick children, and those with complex medical conditions, requires adaptations and more specialized skills. Many families feel unsupported by their medical teams. Recommendations are made for collaborative working between pediatric medicine and surgery, nursing, oncology, radiology, dietetics, anesthetics, pain management, play therapy, child psychology, palliative care, social support, and lactation support.

Infection Control and the Need for Family-/Child-Centered Care

Patient- and family-centered care (FCC) has become central to the delivery of medical care over the last 20 years and has been shown to improve patient outcomes. Infection control practices have the potential to greatly influence family centeredness and care providers, and hospital personnel must consider the potential impacts of isolation and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Approaching infection control with the perspective of FCC requires balancing patient safety and overall patient well-being. In this chapter, authors consider infection control and the benefits of FCC, family and sibling visitation, the use of playrooms, animals in healthcare settings including animal-assisted interventions, the potential adverse effects of infection control practices, and strategies to mitigate these impacts.