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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Eve Espey, MD MPH¹, Joseph Ogburn, MD¹, and Lawrence Leeman, MD, MPH². (1) Department of OB-GYN, University of New Mexico, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, 505 272 6309, eespey@salud.unm.edu, (2) Family and Community Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 2400 Tucker NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131

Background: We aimed to integrate lactation education into the medical student curriculum to give our students the skills to promote and support breastfeeding. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific lactation curriculum in improving medical students' knowledge, improving their confidence in the ability to promote breastfeeding and in improving their ability to counsel women about breastfeeding and common problems for the mother and the newborn.

Methods: This non-randomized intervention trial examined two groups of students—one exposed to the traditional OB-GYN curriculum (n = 55) and one exposed to the traditional curriculum plus an integrated lactation education curriculum (n = 70). Both groups of students were evaluated by their performance on a multiple choice exam on factual knowledge, a self efficacy questionnaire before and after the rotation and an OSCE station. The OSCE station involved a newly postpartum mother experiencing difficulty with breastfeeding. Students were scored on knowledge, clinical and communication skills.

Results: Preliminary data show a trend toward improved scores on the self-assessment, the written test, and the OSCE assessment tools in the intervention group compared with the control group. The final group of study students will complete the evaluation phase this spring. Final results will be analyzed after all students have completed all components of the evaluation.

Conclusions: Students may become more powerful advocates and supporters of breastfeeding when they gain the knowledge and skills from an integrated lactation management curriculum.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Understand the components of a specific lactation education curriculum for medical students
• 2) Describe the components of assessment of the lactation curriculum for medical students
• 3) Understand the impact of the lactation curriculum on medical students’ skills in promoting and supporting breastfeeding

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered