Nurses' knowledge of current guidelines for infant feeding and weaning.
BACKGROUND
Poor infant feeding practices are common causes of nonorganic failure to thrive and may exacerbate the effects of many chronic conditions. It is important therefore that parents receive correct and consistent feeding advice from health professionals. The aim of this study was to determine whether hospital paediatric nursing staff are familiar with the recommendations of the Department of Health (DOH) Weaning Report (DOH, 1994).


METHODS
A total of 127 members of nursing staff (79%) at Derbyshire Children's Hospital were interviewed. Knowledge of recommended practices for the introduction and use of cow's milk, gluten, milk products, mashed foods, vitamin supplements and drinks was assessed.


RESULTS
Overall, 42 people (33%) answered all questions correctly. In each clinical area, six outpatient (64%), 19 special care baby unit (61%) and 17 ward (20%) staff provided correct answers to all questions. No significant difference was found between staff at each grade in the number of questions answered correctly.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of national infant feeding and weaning guidelines was limited suggesting that DOH recommendations are not widely understood or recognized. Further nutrition education and local dissemination of information is required if nurses are to continue to advise parents on aspects of infant feeding.
Williams
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A
Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospital, NHS Trust, Derby City General Hospital, UK. alisonm.williams@sdah-tr.trent.nhs.uk
Pinnington
L L
LL
D000818:Animals; D001628:Beverages; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004506:Education, Nursing; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008892:Milk; D009726:Nurses; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014815:Vitamins