title: Efficacy of breastfeeding support provided by trained clinicians during an early, routine, preventive visit: a prospective, randomized, open trial of 226 mother-infant pairs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite growing evidence of the benefits of prolonged breastfeeding for mother and infant health, the rate of breastfeeding at infant age of 6 months remains below the Healthy People 2010 goal. The greatest decrease in the breastfeeding rate occurs during the first 4 postpartum weeks. Mothers who discontinue breastfeeding early are more likely to report lack of confidence in their ability to breastfeed, problems with the infant latching or suckling, and lack of individualized encouragement from their clinicians in the early postdischarge period. Observational studies suggest that primary care physicians can increase breastfeeding rates through specific advice and practices during routine preventive visits. However, robust scientific evidence based on randomized, controlled trials is currently lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether attending an early, routine, preventive, outpatient visit delivered in a primary care physician's office would improve breastfeeding outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a prospective, randomized, parallel-group, open trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recruited at a level 3 maternity facility, with an average of 2000 births per year, in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 231 mothers who had delivered a healthy singleton infant (gestational age: > or =37 completed weeks) and were breastfeeding on the day of discharge were recruited and randomized (116 were assigned to the intervention group and 115 to the control group) between October 1, 2001, and May 31, 2002; 226 mother-infant pairs (112 in the intervention group and 114 in the control group) contributed data on outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Support for breastfeeding in the control group included the usual verbal encouragement provided by the maternity ward staff members, a general health assessment and an evaluation for evidence of successful breastfeeding behavior by the pediatrician working in the obstetrics department on the day of discharge, provision of the telephone number of a peer support group, mandatory routine, preventive, outpatient visits at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months of infant age, and 10 weeks of paid maternity leave (extended to 18 weeks after the birth of the third child). In addition to the usual predischarge and postdischarge support, the mothers in the intervention group were invited to attend an individual, routine, preventive, outpatient visit in the office of 1 of the 17 participating primary care physicians (pediatricians or family physicians) within 2 weeks after the birth. The participating physicians received a 5-hour training program on breastfeeding, delivered in 2 parts in 1 month, before the beginning of the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome was the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding reported at 4 weeks (defined as giving maternal milk as the only food source, with no other foods or liquids, other than vitamins or medications, being given). The secondary outcomes included any breastfeeding reported at 4 weeks, breastfeeding duration, breastfeeding difficulties, and satisfaction with breastfeeding experiences. Classification into breastfeeding categories reported at 4 weeks was based on 24-hour dietary recall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-two mothers (79.3%) assigned to the intervention group and 8 mothers (7.0%) assigned to the control group reported that they had attended the routine, preventive, outpatient visit in the office of 1 of the 17 primary care physicians participating in the study. Mothers in the intervention group were more likely to report exclusive breastfeeding at 4 weeks (83.9% vs 71.9%; hazard ratio: 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.34) and longer breastfeeding duration (median: 18 weeks vs 13 weeks; hazard ratio: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.03-1.92). They were less likely to report any breastfeeding difficulties (55.3% vs 72.8%; hazard ratio: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.62-0.93). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to the rate of any breastfeeding at 4 weeks (89.3% vs 81.6%; hazard ratio: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.98-1.22) and the rate of mothers fairly or very satisfied with their breastfeeding experiences (91.1% vs 87.7%; hazard ratio: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.95-1.14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we cannot exclude the possibility that findings might differ in other health care systems, this study provides preliminary evidence of the efficacy of breastfeeding support through an early, routine, preventive visit in the offices of trained primary care physicians. Our findings also suggest that a short training program for practicing physicians might contribute to improving breastfeeding outcomes. Multifaceted interventions aiming to support breastfeeding should involve primary care physicians.
authors.affiliation: Quality of Care Unit, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France. jlabarere@chu-grenoble.fr
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Labarere
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gelbert-Baudino
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ayral
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duc
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berchotteau
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bouchon
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schelstraete
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vittoz
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Francois
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pons
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011314:Preventive Health Services