Evaluation of a peer counselling program to promote increased duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN93605280 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN93605280 |
| Protocol serial number | 01-48 |
| Sponsor | The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Department of Paediatrics (Hong Kong) |
| Funder | The postgraduate student undertaking the study was supported by a research studentship from the Research Grants Council, Hong Kong. |
- Submission date
- 28/07/2007
- Registration date
- 09/08/2007
- Last edited
- 31/12/2020
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
Plain English summary of protocol
Not provided at time of registration
Contact information
Scientific
The Department of Paediatrics
Clinical Science Buidling
Prince of Wales Hospital
Shatin
NT
Hong Kong
| tony-nelson@cuhk.edu.hk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Quasi-randomised controlled trial of a peer counselling intervention |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised controlled trial |
| Scientific title | Evaluation of a peer counselling program to promote increased duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding |
| Study acronym | PC SUPPORT |
| Study objectives | Peer counsellor support consisting of a postpartum hospital visit and subsequent telephone contact can increase the exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding at six months |
| Ethics approval(s) | Hospital Ethics Committee, Princess Margaret Hospital, 23/10/2001, ref: 01-48 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Breastfeeding promotion |
| Intervention | The eligible mothers were allocated, on an alternating basis, to one of the two ward areas, (subject to bed availability): a Peer Counsellor ward area or a control ward area. The peer counsellors were asked to only see mothers allocated to the peer counsellor ward area during the study period. Although this was done to avoid the potential influence of placing a control mother next to mother receiving peer counsellor advice, the strategy had the effect of preventing a true randomisation of mothers as enrolment occurred after allocation to these ward areas. All potentially eligible mothers were screened by one of our team members on the day of discharge. Peer counsellor group mothers needed to have had at least one peer counsellor hospital visit and they were recruited even if they had given up breastfeeding prior to discharge to avoid over-estimating any potential benefit of the peer counsellor intervention. As the numbers of potential control group mothers exceeded the number of potential peer counsellor mothers, computer generated random number lists were used for the selection of control mothers. As part of the hospitals peer counsellor volunteer programme, mothers were visited by a peer counsellor postpartum on an ad hoc basis. The peer counsellor would provide mothers with information on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding during illness, basic lactation anatomy and physiology, positioning and latching-on, common myths, problems and solutions, healthy breastfeeding patterns, maternal concerns, milk expression and storage, and sources of social and community support. If a mother was subsequently recruited into the peer counsellor intervention group, she would in addition receive seven regular telephone consultations from a peer counsellor (at 24 hours, 4 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 and 4 months post discharge). These contacts were discontinued at any time if the mother decided to completely stop breastfeeding her infant. The peer counsellors were allowed to provide more frequent telephone support if necessary. The control group mothers would not receive a peer counsellor visit or any phone contacts. They would receive the usual postnatal care and breastfeeding advice which included antenatal education. All mothers (both peer counsellor and control groups) were contacted by the research nurse at 5 days, 3 and 6 months after delivery for data collection. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Breastfeeding duration |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Recruitment data were collected through a structured interview, after obtaining signed informed consent and included information on the following: |
| Completion date | 30/11/2002 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 200 |
| Total final enrolment | 200 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Mothers were eligible for inclusion in the study if they were Cantonese-speakers, healthy and had had a vaginal delivery of a full term healthy infant. It was required that mothers planned to stay in Hong Kong for 6 months postpartum, and that they expressed an intention to breastfeed upon admission to the postnatal unit. |
| Key exclusion criteria | If mothers allocated to peer counsellor group area had not received a visit by a peer counsellor at the time of enrollment. |
| Date of first enrolment | 15/11/2001 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/11/2002 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Hong Kong
Study participating centre
NT
Hong Kong
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 20/09/2007 | 31/12/2020 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
31/12/2020: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
