Date Presented 03/21/24
OTs with specialty certifications used direct breast/chest-feeding interventions the most. Therapists evolved their roles to support their clients. The findings will advance the profession by insight of current clinical practices.
Primary Author and Speaker: Jairrah L Godsil
Additional Authors and Speakers: Julia Farrell
Contributing Authors: Vanessa Jewell, Cary Moore, Julia Shin
PURPOSE: The study aimed to explore occupational therapists’ current practices of direct breast/chest-feeding interventions and co-occupational challenges experienced by clients with medically complex conditions. Due to the limited research on occupational therapists’ contributions to direct breast/chest-feeding, this study was needed to identify clinical barriers experienced by occupational therapists working in this emerging area of practice and insights into their interventions used.
DESIGN: An explanatory sequential mixed methods research design was used to explore therapists’ perspectives and clinical interventions.
METHOD: An expert reviewed, cross-section survey was dispersed online (N = 102), followed by two focus groups (N = 7) for an in-depth analysis of therapists’ interventions, challenges, demographics, and practice settings.
RESULTS: Therapists with specialty certifications (lactation, p<.001; non-lactation, p=.021) supported direct breast/chest-feeding more frequently than those without. Therapists with lactation certifications provided direct interventions more frequently (p<.001) and advocated for direct feeding interventions more often (p=.035). Focus group themes of holistic interventions and role evolution emerged to enable direct breast/chest-feeding co-occupations. All focus group participants reported evolving their clinical roles to mitigate missed direct breast/chest-feeding opportunities for clients during sensitive periods of co-occupational establishment and sustainability.
CONCLUSION: Occupational therapists holistically support direct breast/chest-feeding for medically complex dyads. More research is needed to support intervention efficacy. The impact of this study will likely exert a powerful influence on occupational therapy practice by signifying the importance of lactation education and advocacy in academic and clinical programs to support breast/chest-feeding as primary co-occupations for birthing parents and their children.
References
Hookway, L., Lewis, J., & Brown, A. (2021). The challenges of medically complex breastfed children and their families: A systematic review. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 17(4), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13182
Hookway, L., & Brown, A. (2023). The lactation skill gaps of multidisciplinary paediatric healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13172
Pitonyak, J. (2014). Occupational therapy and breastfeeding promotion: Our role in societal health. Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(3), e90–e96. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.009746
Sponseller, L., Silverman, F., & Roberts, P. (2021). Exploring the role of occupational therapy with mothers who breastfeed. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(5), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.041269
