Heckendorn Poster .pptxAAP Breastfeeding Modules in Residency Education
AAP Breastfeeding Modules in Residency Education
Tiffany Heckendorn MD, Adrienne Hoyt-Austin MD, Laura Kair MD, MAS
Tiffany Heckendorn MD, Adrienne Hoyt-Austin MD, Laura Kair MD, MAS
Background: Breastfeeding is important for optimal maternal and infant health. Research has demonstrated that physicians lack training and confident in addressing breastfeeding despite this known education gap.
Background: Breastfeeding is important for optimal maternal and infant health. Research has demonstrated that physicians lack training and confident in addressing breastfeeding despite this known education gap.
Specific Aims:The purpose of this study was to implement the AAP breastfeeding curriculum during the Newborn Nursery (NN) rotation. Pre and post surveys available through the AAP were used to assess our resident’s knowledge, practice patterns, and confidence in breastfeeding medicine. We hypothesized that knowledge would increase, and this education would change resident clinical practices.
Specific Aims:The purpose of this study was to implement the AAP breastfeeding curriculum during the Newborn Nursery (NN) rotation. Pre and post surveys available through the AAP were used to assess our resident’s knowledge, practice patterns, and confidence in breastfeeding medicine. We hypothesized that knowledge would increase, and this education would change resident clinical practices.
Methods: Our control group consisted of 10 senior residents who were not exposed to the curriculum. Our intervention group was 1st year residents who completed the curriculum and the pre and post surveys during their NN rotation and roughly 6 months after, respectively. The questions assessed knowledge, clinical practice patterns, and confidence. We used the unpaired T test to evaluate for statistically significant differences in the groups.
Methods: Our control group consisted of 10 senior residents who were not exposed to the curriculum. Our intervention group was 1st year residents who completed the curriculum and the pre and post surveys during their NN rotation and roughly 6 months after, respectively. The questions assessed knowledge, clinical practice patterns, and confidence. We used the unpaired T test to evaluate for statistically significant differences in the groups.
Results: Clinical practice patterns of the intervention group had significantly improved compared to the control(p=0.046). The post group had significantly higher confidence compared to the pre group confidence(p=0.003) but also that the control group had a statistically significant higher overall confidence level(p=0.014). There was also a statistically significant increase in knowledge when comparing the intervention groups’ pre and post surveys(p= 0.031). We found no statistically significant difference between the pre and post intervention scores for practice patterns or the knowledge scores between the post intervention group and control.
Results: Clinical practice patterns of the intervention group had significantly improved compared to the control(p=0.046). The post group had significantly higher confidence compared to the pre group confidence(p=0.003) but also that the control group had a statistically significant higher overall confidence level(p=0.014). There was also a statistically significant increase in knowledge when comparing the intervention groups’ pre and post surveys(p= 0.031). We found no statistically significant difference between the pre and post intervention scores for practice patterns or the knowledge scores between the post intervention group and control.
Conclusions:Our observational study demonstrates that in our residency program, completion of the AAP curriculum resulted in improved breastfeeding practice patterns compared to those who had never completed the program, arguably the most important conclusion when designing an educational curriculum for physicians. Although the difference in knowledge was not statistically significant between the control vs intervention groups, it was a notable difference (73.6% vs 82.3%) and there was a statistically significant increase in knowledge within the intervention group, however their data was not paired. While our study was limited by sample size, we hope that implementation of this program elevated our educational curriculum.
Conclusions:Our observational study demonstrates that in our residency program, completion of the AAP curriculum resulted in improved breastfeeding practice patterns compared to those who had never completed the program, arguably the most important conclusion when designing an educational curriculum for physicians. Although the difference in knowledge was not statistically significant between the control vs intervention groups, it was a notable difference (73.6% vs 82.3%) and there was a statistically significant increase in knowledge within the intervention group, however their data was not paired. While our study was limited by sample size, we hope that implementation of this program elevated our educational curriculum.
Resident Statement of Involvement: Conceived idea, obtained IRB approval, enrolled subjects, analyzed data, 1st author on manuscript, presented poster at breastfeeding summit.
Resident Statement of Involvement: Conceived idea, obtained IRB approval, enrolled subjects, analyzed data, 1st author on manuscript, presented poster at breastfeeding summit.