Exploring Family-Medicine Providers’ Perspectives on Group Care Visits for Maternal and Infant Nutrition Education

Abstract

ObjectiveExplore current maternal and infant nutrition education practices and family medicine primary care providers' views on a group care model to deliver nutrition education to mother–infant dyads. DesignIn-depth interviews. SettingFamily medicine clinics in 1 Midwestern US hospital system. ParticipantsFamily medicine primary care providers (n = 17) who regularly see infants during well-baby visits. Phenomenon of InterestCurrent maternal and infant nutrition education practices; views on ideal way to deliver nutrition education to mother–infant dyads; feedback on group care model to deliver nutrition education to mother–infant dyads. AnalysisAudio recordings transcribed verbatim and coded using conventional content analysis. ResultsFamily medicine primary care providers are limited in the ability to provide maternal and infant nutrition education and desire a different approach. Group care was the preferred method; it was shared most frequently as the ideal approach to nutrition education delivery and participants reacted favorably when presented with this model. However, there were many concerns with group care (eg, moderating difficult conversations, program implementation logistics, sufficient group volume, and interruption in patient–provider relationship). Conclusion and ImplicationsFamily medicine primary care providers desire a different approach to deliver nutrition education to mother–infant dyads in clinic. A group care model may be well-accepted among family medicine primary care providers but issues must be resolved before implementation. These results could inform future group care implementation studies and influence provider buy-in.