Clinical Skills
Wafa Khasawneh, PhD, RN, MSN, IBCLC
Assistant Professor
California State University, Dominguez Hills
San Diego, California, United States
I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
Linda Goldman
Interim Director FNP Program
Calif. State University Dominguez Hills
Redondo Beach, California, United States
none (Other Financial or Material Support, n/a)
Samira Moughrabi
Associate Professor
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY-DOMINGUEZ HILLS
Granada Hills, United States
I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
Sally Mahmoud, MPH, MSN
Assistanat Professor
Cal State University Dominguez Hills
Fontana, California, United States
I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
BONUS SESSION
(continuing education credits not available)
Abstract:
Background:
Nurses’ knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding greatly impact their roles in promoting and supporting breastfeeding. However, they may not have sufficient knowledge and/or positive attitudes to support and advocate for these families. Many studies focused on professional nurses or undergraduate students’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. Few studies included registered nurses enrolled in post licensure undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.
Research
Aim:
The aims of this study are to compare the knowledge and attitude scores between undergraduate and graduate students and to identify the variables associated with higher breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, a convenient sample of 95 nursing students (50 undergraduate and 45 graduate) was recruited from an ethnically diverse, urban university in Southern California. Students voluntarily completed an online survey adapted from Brodribb, et al. (2008). Bivariate analysis was conducted to identify relationships between study variables.
Results:
Compared to undergraduates, graduate students scored higher on knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding (P < 0.001). Students’ perception of their prior academic breastfeeding preparation was not related to their current knowledge and attitudes. Age, having children, exclusively breastfed own baby, and duration of personal breastfeeding were positively associated with attitudes and knowledge (P < 0.05 for all variables). Years of nursing experience (p = .01) was positively associated with attitudes only.
Conclusions: Compared to academic preparation, age, having children, and personal breastfeeding experiences seem to be better indicators of breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes. Nursing programs should exert more effort in enhancing curricular breastfeeding education.
Publication: No.
Diversity and Inclusion: We embrace diversity and equality in our profession and are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and views. The members of our research collaborative are from diverse cultural backgrounds, making us especially sensitive to diversity, inclusion, and equality. The study participants are all enrolled in one of the most ethnically diverse, urban universities in Southern California.
Disclosures: Presenter(s) indicated no conflicts of interest to disclose.