title: Factors influencing the sustainability of volunteer peer support for breast-feeding mothers within a hospital environment: An exploratory qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University, Drakes Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Heather.hopper@plymouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hopper
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University, Drakes Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Heather.skirton@plymouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skirton
mesh_terms: D016550:Birthing Centers; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003153:Community Health Services; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000071252:Mentoring; D008880:Midwifery / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education*; D010379:Peer Group; D011181:Postnatal Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D006113:United Kingdom; D014838:Volunteers
keywords: Breast feeding; Peer support; Qualitative; Sustainability; Volunteer