Counseling parents about child feeding: a qualitative evaluation of French doctors and health/childcare professionals’ experiences and perception of a brochure containing new recommendations
Abstract Background Parents are crucial in establishing their children’s eating habits, and doctors and health/childcare professionals (HCCPs) can provide meaningful and trusted guidance on feeding, especially in the 0-3-year-old period. With the upcoming release of the official brochure containing...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14778-2 |
| _version_ | 1811301806546878464 |
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| author | Sofia De Rosso Camille Riera-Navarro Pauline Ducrot Camille Schwartz Sophie Nicklaus |
| author_facet | Sofia De Rosso Camille Riera-Navarro Pauline Ducrot Camille Schwartz Sophie Nicklaus |
| author_sort | Sofia De Rosso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Parents are crucial in establishing their children’s eating habits, and doctors and health/childcare professionals (HCCPs) can provide meaningful and trusted guidance on feeding, especially in the 0-3-year-old period. With the upcoming release of the official brochure containing the new child feeding recommendations in France, this study aims to: (1) assess professionals’ practices and perceptions regarding their communication with parents on child feeding and (2) evaluate their perception of the draft of the new brochure. Methods A 15-page draft brochure (without pictures) containing updated child feeding recommendations for children 0–3 years old was developed by Santé publique France (the French public health agency). Online semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals (n = 21), including 13 pediatricians and general practitioners (doctors) and eight healthcare or childcare professionals (HCCPs) two weeks after they were provided with this draft brochure to read. The interview guide was developed and piloted with other professionals (n = 3) prior to these interviews. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using an inductive approach. Results While doctors and HCCPs mostly communicate orally with parents, both acknowledged that the brochure might be a helpful supplement, especially for HCCPs to legitimize their advice to parents. For doctors, giving the brochure to parents may help provide systematic advice and save time during consultations. Professionals serving parents of lower socioeconomic status would prefer a supplement with less text and more illustrations. In general, the messages were perceived to be easily understandable but providing detachable cards to distribute according to the child’s age would facilitate information dissemination and might be more useful to parents. Professionals reported that lack of training, the circulation of contradictory information, and language barriers were common challenges. Conclusion French professionals welcomed the new official brochure as a means to spread updated child feeding recommendations. However, this brochure could be modified and specific tools developed to better adapt to professionals’ needs of communication with parents and to facilitate the relay of information. Providing updated and consistent information to parents should be considered a priority for public health stakeholders toward increased adherence to new recommendations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:15:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33bb7fb838504a3390f1bf658e06bbe8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:15:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-33bb7fb838504a3390f1bf658e06bbe82022-12-22T02:56:45ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-12-0122111410.1186/s12889-022-14778-2Counseling parents about child feeding: a qualitative evaluation of French doctors and health/childcare professionals’ experiences and perception of a brochure containing new recommendationsSofia De Rosso0Camille Riera-Navarro1Pauline Ducrot2Camille Schwartz3Sophie Nicklaus4Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne Franche-ComtéCentre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne Franche-ComtéSanté publique France, French national public health agencyCentre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne Franche-ComtéCentre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne Franche-ComtéAbstract Background Parents are crucial in establishing their children’s eating habits, and doctors and health/childcare professionals (HCCPs) can provide meaningful and trusted guidance on feeding, especially in the 0-3-year-old period. With the upcoming release of the official brochure containing the new child feeding recommendations in France, this study aims to: (1) assess professionals’ practices and perceptions regarding their communication with parents on child feeding and (2) evaluate their perception of the draft of the new brochure. Methods A 15-page draft brochure (without pictures) containing updated child feeding recommendations for children 0–3 years old was developed by Santé publique France (the French public health agency). Online semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals (n = 21), including 13 pediatricians and general practitioners (doctors) and eight healthcare or childcare professionals (HCCPs) two weeks after they were provided with this draft brochure to read. The interview guide was developed and piloted with other professionals (n = 3) prior to these interviews. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using an inductive approach. Results While doctors and HCCPs mostly communicate orally with parents, both acknowledged that the brochure might be a helpful supplement, especially for HCCPs to legitimize their advice to parents. For doctors, giving the brochure to parents may help provide systematic advice and save time during consultations. Professionals serving parents of lower socioeconomic status would prefer a supplement with less text and more illustrations. In general, the messages were perceived to be easily understandable but providing detachable cards to distribute according to the child’s age would facilitate information dissemination and might be more useful to parents. Professionals reported that lack of training, the circulation of contradictory information, and language barriers were common challenges. Conclusion French professionals welcomed the new official brochure as a means to spread updated child feeding recommendations. However, this brochure could be modified and specific tools developed to better adapt to professionals’ needs of communication with parents and to facilitate the relay of information. Providing updated and consistent information to parents should be considered a priority for public health stakeholders toward increased adherence to new recommendations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14778-2Feeding recommendationsGuidelinesHealth communicationHealth promotionComplementary feedingQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Sofia De Rosso Camille Riera-Navarro Pauline Ducrot Camille Schwartz Sophie Nicklaus Counseling parents about child feeding: a qualitative evaluation of French doctors and health/childcare professionals’ experiences and perception of a brochure containing new recommendations BMC Public Health Feeding recommendations Guidelines Health communication Health promotion Complementary feeding Qualitative research |
| title | Counseling parents about child feeding: a qualitative evaluation of French doctors and health/childcare professionals’ experiences and perception of a brochure containing new recommendations |
| title_full | Counseling parents about child feeding: a qualitative evaluation of French doctors and health/childcare professionals’ experiences and perception of a brochure containing new recommendations |
| title_fullStr | Counseling parents about child feeding: a qualitative evaluation of French doctors and health/childcare professionals’ experiences and perception of a brochure containing new recommendations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Counseling parents about child feeding: a qualitative evaluation of French doctors and health/childcare professionals’ experiences and perception of a brochure containing new recommendations |
| title_short | Counseling parents about child feeding: a qualitative evaluation of French doctors and health/childcare professionals’ experiences and perception of a brochure containing new recommendations |
| title_sort | counseling parents about child feeding a qualitative evaluation of french doctors and health childcare professionals experiences and perception of a brochure containing new recommendations |
| topic | Feeding recommendations Guidelines Health communication Health promotion Complementary feeding Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14778-2 |
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