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A training needs survey of doctors' breastfeeding support skills in England.

ABSTRACT: The study examined the training needs of paediatricians and general practitioners (GPs). Respondents rated their competence on 23 breastfeeding support skills, importance of update in the next 2 years, actual and potential helpfulness of different forms of professional updates, and accessibility in the next 2 years. The perception of organizational barriers to breastfeeding support and practitioners' knowledge of policies and guidance on breastfeeding were also examined. The sample comprised 120 paediatricians and 57 GPs. Response rates were estimated as between 4% and 29%, depending upon the method of recruitment. Although both groups rated themselves as fairly competent in most of the skill areas, they welcomed training in key areas of practice. Paediatricians identified more areas for update than GPs (t = 3.44; d.f. = 178; P < 0.00001). Those who believed that they were less competent in clinical skills were least likely to seek update (r = 0.35; P < 0.00001). Practical forms of training were most often welcomed. Only 47% of GPs and 62.5% of paediatricians had access to a local breastfeeding policy. There were evident gaps in knowledge on key aspects of public health policy, which could influence local practice; for example, 50.8% of GPs and 47.5% of paediatricians identified a younger age for introducing solids than the minimum according to current government guidance. Organizational barriers to breastfeeding support were experienced by all respondents. Recommendations include purposively targeting training to those least likely to seek training, and developing effective self-study and observational methods of learning. All training should be evaluated and implemented alongside breastfeeding policies and clinical leadership to improve the practice of all healthcare practitioners.

SUBMITTER: Wallace LM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6860538 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A training needs survey of doctors' breastfeeding support skills in England.

Wallace Louise M LM Kosmala-Anderson Joanna J

Maternal & child nutrition 20061001 4

The study examined the training needs of paediatricians and general practitioners (GPs). Respondents rated their competence on 23 breastfeeding support skills, importance of update in the next 2 years, actual and potential helpfulness of different forms of professional updates, and accessibility in the next 2 years. The perception of organizational barriers to breastfeeding support and practitioners' knowledge of policies and guidance on breastfeeding were also examined. The sample comprised 120 ...[more]

PMID: 16999767

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Project description:BackgroundBreastfeeding continuation rates are low in Ireland. The Breastfeeding Observation and Assessment Tool (BOAT) was developed to assist public health nurses in assessing breastfeeding challenges; however, little is known of its actual usage, the level of training experienced or desired by public health nurses, or their level of confidence in the support they provide to breastfeeding mothers.Research aimTo identify the current practices and support needs of public health nurses who provide breastfeeding support in Ireland.MethodAn online questionnaire was devised to collect respondents' confidence with breastfeeding issues, caseload, and practices. It was distributed to public health nurses with a current child health caseload in one Community Healthcare Organization. Mann Whitney U tests were used to ascertain the relationship between public health nurses' confidence level and those with qualifications in midwifery or as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).ResultsThe survey was completed by 66 public health nurses. Only 14 respondents (21.2%) indicated that they always used the BOAT. The most common reason for not doing so was a lack of education on its use (n = 17, 25.8%). Postholders also certified as IBCLCs were considered by participants to be the most appropriate professionals to resolve certain breastfeeding issues. Confidence levels to manage breastfeeding issues were highest among public health nurses with IBCLC credentialing (U = 12.5, p = .001) while no difference was seen when comparing those with a midwifery degree to those without (U = 184.0, p = .92). Face-to-face workshops and blended-learning approaches were ranked as the preferred formats for breastfeeding education (Median rank = 2).ConclusionsBreastfeeding education incorporating a face-to-face component is needed to support public health nurses who work with breastfeeding mothers, as is prioritization of recruitment in the community of public health nurses with IBCLC credentials.

Project description:BackgroundAlthough the majority of women in England initiate breastfeeding, approximately one third cease breastfeeding by six weeks and many of these women report they would like to have breastfed for longer.MethodsData from a survey of women ?16 years who gave birth to singleton term infants in 2009 in England; questionnaires were completed approximately three months postnatally. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between postnatal support and other factors, and breastfeeding cessation at 10 days and six weeks. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated to estimate the relative contribution of breastfeeding support factors to overall breastfeeding cessation at these two time points.ResultsOf the 3840 women who initiated breastfeeding and reported timing of breastfeeding cessation, 13% had stopped by 10 days; and of the 3354 women who were breastfeeding at 10 days, 17% had stopped by six weeks. Socio-demographic factors (maternal age, ethnicity, country of birth, deprivation, education) and antenatal feeding intention were all independently associated with breastfeeding cessation at 10 days and six weeks. Women who did not receive feeding advice or support from a parent or peer support group, voluntary organisation, or breastfeeding clinic were more likely to stop breastfeeding by 10 days. Perceived active support and encouragement from midwives was associated with a lower odds of breastfeeding cessation at both 10 days and six weeks. Estimated PAFs suggest that 34-59% of breastfeeding cessations by 10 days could be avoided if more women in the study population received breastfeeding support.ConclusionAlthough multiple factors influence a mother's likelihood of continuing breastfeeding, it is clear that socio-demographic factors are strongly associated with breastfeeding continuation. However, there is evidence that breastfeeding support, including that delivered by peer or lay support workers, may have an important role in preventing cessations in the first few weeks.

Project description:Despite the proliferation of research on anesthesiology training at all stages of medical education, there is relatively little published literature surveying the perspectives and concerns of anesthesiologists regarding cardiovascular anesthesia training. Therefore, we conducted a survey to investigate the attitudes, barriers, expectations, stress experiences, satisfaction, and future aspirations of anesthesiologists trained at a tertiary cardiovascular specialty hospital in China. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 260 anesthesiologists who received cardiovascular anesthesia training at departments of anesthesiology in a tertiary cardiovascular specialty hospital in China. After the study protocol was approved, electronic questionnaires were distributed to the target group through the online survey software "Wen Juan Xing." Respondents were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire on their smartphones through WeChat, with the restriction of one response per device enabled. Of the 260 trainees, 240 (98%) completed the questionnaire. The majority of the trainees were 31 years of age or above. A large majority had approximately 10 years of clinical anesthesia practice, and nearly one-third had never undertaken cardiovascular specialty anesthesia practice before. The most common reasons for attending the refresher training were the need to learn basic specialty theory and improve clinical skills. The barriers were mainly time constraints or staff shortages in the department. Sixty-one (93.8%) trainees described the experience as "stressful or highly stressful" and identified poor teacher interaction as the highest-ranking stressor. Anesthesiologists were most dissatisfied with job rewards, with a satisfaction rate of only 15%. Anesthesiologists are highly stressed during the refresher training. Poor teacher interaction and low job rewards were identified as the highest-ranking stressors during cardiovascular anesthesia training. Training providers need to pay more attention to these stressors to enhance the quality of cardiovascular anesthesia training.

Dataset Information

A training needs survey of doctors' breastfeeding support skills in England.

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A training needs survey of doctors' breastfeeding support skills in England.

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