Breastfeeding changes for VLBW infants in the NICU following staff education.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention aimed at staff and parents in changing breastfeeding practices in the NICU.


METHODS
The breastfeeding education initiative consisted of three parts: breastfeeding training for NICU staff, issuance of complementary breastfeeding materials to mothers of infants in the NICU, and addition of a breastfeeding pathway to the individualized care plan. Infants admitted before and after the initiative were compared to evaluate for changes in breastfeeding practices.


METHODS
The study sample included very low birth weight (VLBW) infants hospitalized in the NICU for more than seven days and born weighing <1,500 g. Infants were grouped based on whether they were admitted before (pre-intervention) or after (post-intervention) implementation of the education initiative.


METHODS
Health care professional (HCP) knowledge of breastfeeding interventions in the NICU was measured using a posttest following training. Breast milk feeding initiation rates, breastfeeding rates, and rates of breast milk feeding at discharge were measured via retrospective chart review among pre- and post-intervention infant groups.


RESULTS
The post-intervention group demonstrated significant improvement in rates of breastfeeding (infants being put directly to the breast) in the NICU compared with the pre-intervention group. General positive trends in breast milk feeding initiation (up 11 percent) and breast milk feeding at discharge (up 5 percent) were observed, but these increases failed to reach significance.
Pineda
Roberta G
RG
Washington University, School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA. pineda_r@kids.wustl.edu
Foss
Joanne
J
Richards
Lorie
L
Pane
Camille A
CA
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D005865:Gestational Age; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008423:Maternal Age; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors