Online Breastfeeding Training for Increasing Staff Knowledge and Breastfeeding Initiation Rates on a Mother/Infant Unit

Abstract

Breastmilk is recognized as the ideal source of nutrition for infants from birth throughout the first year of life. Healthcare providers, who are positioned in women/infant settings, are benefactors in breastfeeding support and care. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to retrospectively evaluate an evidence-based, online breastfeeding education series for staff on a mother/infant unit at a Missouri hospital. The outcomes measured were staff knowledge and hospital breastfeeding rates. A cohort of staff members on a mother/infant unit participated in the project, including registered and unlicensed personnel. Data was retrieved at baseline, n=65, and post-education, n=68, on breastfeeding knowledge. Breastfeeding rates were assessed for change, pre- to post-intervention. An increase in knowledge was found in 14 of the 15 questions with nine demonstrating significance (p < 0.05). Hospital breastfeeding rates are excluded from this submission for confidentiality. The educational program can be used in other healthcare facilities to influence nursing care, healthcare practices, and health and wellness for the mother and infant.