Increasing Positive Breastfeeding Attitudes Using an Evidence-Based Breastfeeding Module for Prelicensure Nursing Students.

PURPOSE: To create a breastfeeding educational module based on a core competency framework with evidence-based guidelines and evaluate the effect on the breastfeeding attitudes of nursing students.

BACKGROUND

Optimal human milk feeding benefits lactating parents and their infants significantly. The education and support provided by health care workers are known to contribute to infant feeding practices.

METHODS

An evidenced-based breastfeeding module was implemented to educate nursing students about breastfeeding in 2 university settings. A quantitative quasi-experimental design using a pretest-posttest was applied to measure the nursing students' breastfeeding attitudes after the educational module.

RESULTS

A statistically significant increase between nursing students' pretest and posttest breastfeeding attitudes (t = 11.76, df = 72, P < .001) was demonstrated after the educational module in a total sample of 73 students.

CONCLUSION

The evidence-based breastfeeding module enhanced the breastfeeding attitudes of the nursing students. These findings encourage the development of standardized education for nursing students to optimize the education and support for breastfeeding dyads within health care systems.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: The participating nursing students demonstrated increased knowledge and attitudes after the evidence-based breastfeeding module. A core competency framework can guide future research with educational interventions implemented in nursing programs.