Residency Curriculum Improves Breastfeeding Care

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Multiple studies have revealed inadequacies in breastfeeding education during residency, and results of recent studies have confirmed that attitudes of practicing pediatricians toward breastfeeding are deteriorating. In this we study evaluated whether a residency curriculum improved physician knowledge, practice patterns, and confidence in providing breastfeeding care and whether implementation of this curriculum was associated with increased breastfeeding rates in patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort of 417 residents was enrolled in a controlled trial of a novel curriculum developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics in conjunction with experts from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Family Physicians, and Association of Pediatric Program Directors. Six intervention residency programs implemented the curriculum, whereas 7 control programs did not. Residents completed pretests and posttests before and after implementation. Breastfeeding rates were derived from randomly selected medical charts in hospitals and clinics at which residents trained. RESULTS: Trained residents were more likely to show improvements in knowledge (odds ratio [OR]: 2.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5–5.0]), practice patterns related to breastfeeding (OR: 2.2 [95% CI: 1.3–3.7]), and confidence (OR: 2.4 [95% CI: 1.4–4.1]) than residents at control sites. Infants at the institutions in which the curriculum was implemented were more likely to breastfeed exclusively 6 months after intervention (OR: 4.1 [95% CI: 1.8–9.7]). CONCLUSIONS: A targeted breastfeeding curriculum for residents in pediatrics, family medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology improves knowledge, practice patterns, and confidence in breastfeeding management in residents and increases exclusive breastfeeding in their patients. Implementation of this curriculum may similarly benefit other institutions.