title: Educating pediatric residents about breastfeeding: evaluation of 3 time-efficient teaching strategies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previously reported breastfeeding curricula for residents have combined different teaching methods, have focused on knowledge and attitudes, and have been time-intensive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate 3 time-efficient breastfeeding curricula for effectiveness in regard to pediatric residents' knowledge, confidence, and skills in managing a simulated breastfeeding scenario.
  
  
  METHODS
  First-year pediatric residents during their 4-week community hospital newborn nursery rotation were consecutively assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Group 1 shadowed an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for 1 hour; group 2 watched a 25-minute case-based breastfeeding DVD; and group 3 observed a 3-hour prenatal parent breastfeeding class (CLS). Residents were assessed by (1) a pretest and posttest evaluating their breastfeeding knowledge and confidence, and (2) a clinical skills scenario managing a breastfeeding standardized patient (SP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine pediatric residents participated in the study (11 in IBCLC, 16 DVD, 12 CLS) over a 1-year period. All groups significantly improved their knowledge scores and confidence in managing breastfeeding problems, with the IBCLC group showing more improvement in knowledge than the other groups (P = .02) and a higher rating of their teaching method (P = .01). All groups performed well on the SP clinical skills scenario, with no significant difference between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All 3 teaching methods were time-efficient and produced important gains in knowledge and confidence, with residents in the IBCLC group demonstrating greatest improvement in knowledge and a higher rating of their teaching method. Our study provides support for 3 methods of teaching residents breastfeeding management and demonstrates that IBCLCs are well-received as interprofessional educators.
authors.affiliation: Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Children's National Medical Center and George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA jtender@childrensnational.org.
authors.forename: Jennifer A F
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tender
authors.affiliation: Children's National Medical Center and Holy Cross Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuzzi
authors.affiliation: Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Children's National Medical Center and George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kind
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Simmens
authors.affiliation: The Clinical Learning and Simulation Skills Center, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blatt
authors.affiliation: The Clinical Learning and Simulation Skills Center, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Larrie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004219:District of Columbia; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010372:Pediatrics; D013663:Teaching
keywords: breastfeeding; education; pediatric residents; standardized patients