Blixt I, Rosenblad AK, Axelsson O, Funkquist EL. Breastfeeding training improved healthcare professional's self-efficacy to provide evidence-based breastfeeding support: A pre-post intervention study.
Midwifery 2023;
125:103794. [PMID:
37660540 DOI:
10.1016/j.midw.2023.103794]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To describe healthcare professional's (HCP's) perceived self-efficacy in their ability to provide breastfeeding support before and after a breastfeeding training program.
DESIGN
Pre-post intervention study.
SETTING
Antenatal care and child healthcare (CHC) centres in Sweden during 2020.
PARTICIPANTS
An intervention group consisting of 39 HCPs (midwives 51.3%, child healthcare nurses 46.2%) completing a questionnaire at baseline and after intervention, and a control group of 34 HCPs (midwives 61.8%, child healthcare nurses 38.2%) completing a questionnaire at baseline.
INTERVENTION
A breastfeeding training program in line with the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and WHO recommendations about breastfeeding.
MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS
The 11-item Breastfeeding Support Confidence Scale (BSCS) measures HCP's self-efficacy regarding providing breastfeeding support in line with Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and WHO recommendations. The intervention group experienced a significantly increased self-efficacy from pre-intervention to post-intervention for 8 of the 11 BSCS items, with the overall BSCS index score increasing from 36.87 to 39.56 points (p = 0.001). The index score in the intervention group at follow-up was significantly higher than the corresponding score in the control group at baseline (p = 0.025). The intervention group had significantly higher scores at follow-up than the control group at baseline on the questions: "I'm sure that I can help mothers continue to breastfeed even if the infant doesn't follow the growth curve" (p = 0.026) and "I'm sure that I can help mothers continue to breastfeed when the breastfeeding is painful" (p = 0.048).
KEY CONCLUSIONS
The breastfeeding training program improved HCP' self-efficacy to provide evidence-based support to breastfeeding mothers.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
This training program is well suited to implement in clinical practice and follows the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ACTRN12623000648628.
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