258605 Evaluation of Outcomes of Baby Steps to Breastfeeding Success

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM

Elizabeth Reifsnider, PhD, WHNP, PHCNS-BC, FAAN , College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
Jennifer Kue, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow , College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
Anne Whitmire, IBCLC, RLC , Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Arizona Department of Health Services, Phoenix, AZ
Christia Bridges-Jones, IBCLC , Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Arizona Department of Health Services, Phoenix, AZ
Background: Arizona Department of Health Services (AzDHS) has provided policy training on five evidence-based maternity care practices to positively impact breastfeeding success for the majority of women's health staff who work at hospitals in Arizona that participate in the Perinatal Trust (the majority of hospitals who provide labor and delivery services in AZ). Policy training on these care practices has also been provided to physicians who deliver infants at these hospitals. The training for the intrapartum hospital staff (nearly all nurses) was provided by IBCLC staff employed by the Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity, AzDHS, and the training for physicians was provided by medical doctors who author and review breastfeeding protocols for the Academy of Breastfeeding.

Methods: Two researchers who were not connected to the AzDHS evaluated the learning and behavioral outcomes of the attendees of the training for intrapartum staff. The researchers used a multi-modal evaluation strategy, consisting of participant observation of the training sessions, qualitative interviews of staff who received the training, and a quantitative survey of changes that have occurred in the hospitals since the trainings. Over 130 trainings have occurred in 28 participating hospitals, with an average attendance of 20 at each session.

Results: Data analysis is ongoing at this time and results will be presented at the conference.

Conclusions: Evaluation is a vital part of all programs and will help identify the parts of the trainings that need to be supported and continued, and the parts that need more refinement to be effective.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the most positive outcomes of the Baby Steps to Breastfeeding Success.

Keywords: Breast Feeding, Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted the evaluation study that is presented in this report.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.