School of Nursing Poster Presentations
Does Educational Level or Specialty Certification Influence the Level of Breast Feeding Support that Nurses Provide to Newly Del
Poster Number
320
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
3-2016
Abstract
Background: Breastfeeding is the optimal method of feeding for infants in the first year of life. Support for breastfeeding begins in the hospital after delivery, yet often, adequate informational, technical, and emotional support is not provided, and formula supplementation is initiated. This limits the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. A better understanding is needed of the factors that influence support of new mothers in their breastfeeding attempts.
Objective: This study was conducted to determine what, if any, correlation existed between nurses’ level of education and specialty certification, and their support of new mothers in their quest to breastfeed their babies. It examined the relationship between a nurse’s educational level and the supportive attitudes and behaviors regarding breastfeeding that he/she demonstrated. It also examined the relationship between certification status and the supportive attitudes and behaviors regarding breastfeeding that he/she demonstrated.
Methods: Utilizing the 64 item Nursing Support for Breastfeeding Questionnaire, a quantitative study that utilizes a descriptive comparative survey design was performed. Registered nurse participants rated their level of support and attitudes about breastfeeding using a seven point Likert type scale for each question. A sample of 150 Labor and Delivery, Mother/Baby and Neonatal Intensive Care nurses in a large urban teaching hospital in the Northeastern portion of the United States was given the opportunity to complete the survey. Thirty five nurses returned the survey and 30 (n=30) met the inclusion criteria.
Results: An independent samples t test was utilized to compare the results reported by nurses that held specialty certification in women’s and children’s nursing against those who did not. Nurses without certification reported a mean score of 5.85, while nurses with certification reported a mean score of 6.19. Significance was found to be .092, which was not considered to be statistically significant (p<.05). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done between the different educational levels. The mean score for nurses with an associates degree was 6.08, nurses with a bachelors degree was 6.03, and nurses with a masters degree was 5.51. Significance was found to be .094, which was also not statistically significant (p<.05). Age and years of maternal child health experience were secondarily analyzed by the same methods and also found not to be statistically significant predictors of a nurses’ willingness to provide breastfeeding support to new mothers.
Conclusions: The variables of educational level and certification status were not a statistically significant predictor of a nurse’s willingness to provide support to breastfeeding mothers while in the hospital for delivery. Additional research is needed with larger sample sizes to validate these results.
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Open Access
1
Does Educational Level or Specialty Certification Influence the Level of Breast Feeding Support that Nurses Provide to Newly Del
Background: Breastfeeding is the optimal method of feeding for infants in the first year of life. Support for breastfeeding begins in the hospital after delivery, yet often, adequate informational, technical, and emotional support is not provided, and formula supplementation is initiated. This limits the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. A better understanding is needed of the factors that influence support of new mothers in their breastfeeding attempts.
Objective: This study was conducted to determine what, if any, correlation existed between nurses’ level of education and specialty certification, and their support of new mothers in their quest to breastfeed their babies. It examined the relationship between a nurse’s educational level and the supportive attitudes and behaviors regarding breastfeeding that he/she demonstrated. It also examined the relationship between certification status and the supportive attitudes and behaviors regarding breastfeeding that he/she demonstrated.
Methods: Utilizing the 64 item Nursing Support for Breastfeeding Questionnaire, a quantitative study that utilizes a descriptive comparative survey design was performed. Registered nurse participants rated their level of support and attitudes about breastfeeding using a seven point Likert type scale for each question. A sample of 150 Labor and Delivery, Mother/Baby and Neonatal Intensive Care nurses in a large urban teaching hospital in the Northeastern portion of the United States was given the opportunity to complete the survey. Thirty five nurses returned the survey and 30 (n=30) met the inclusion criteria.
Results: An independent samples t test was utilized to compare the results reported by nurses that held specialty certification in women’s and children’s nursing against those who did not. Nurses without certification reported a mean score of 5.85, while nurses with certification reported a mean score of 6.19. Significance was found to be .092, which was not considered to be statistically significant (p<.05). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done between the different educational levels. The mean score for nurses with an associates degree was 6.08, nurses with a bachelors degree was 6.03, and nurses with a masters degree was 5.51. Significance was found to be .094, which was also not statistically significant (p<.05). Age and years of maternal child health experience were secondarily analyzed by the same methods and also found not to be statistically significant predictors of a nurses’ willingness to provide breastfeeding support to new mothers.
Conclusions: The variables of educational level and certification status were not a statistically significant predictor of a nurse’s willingness to provide support to breastfeeding mothers while in the hospital for delivery. Additional research is needed with larger sample sizes to validate these results.
Comments
Presented at: GW Research Days 2016