Purpose: To assess third year medical students’ knowledge level as it pertains to breastfeeding. To use this information in creating a needs-assessment for developing a breastfeeding curriculum within the Obstetrics & Gynecology (OBGYN) clerkship.
Background: Breastfeeding is the physiologic process by which women provide nutrition to offspring through milk production. This process requires an intricate balance of hormones, feedback loops, time, and dedication. Despite widespread medical knowledge that breastfeeding is the ideal infant nutrition, medical trainees receive little or no dedicated education on breastfeeding.
Methods: We surveyed 98 third-year medical students during orientation of their OBGYN clerkship. Students completed their clinical rotation at Loyola University Medical Center, a Baby Friendly designated hospital. The questionnaire was developed by the research team and investigated both knowledge levels, attitudes, and comfort counseling patients about breastfeeding.
Results: Surveys were completed by 60 students (61.22%). Of our respondents, 40 (73.3%) identified as female and 16 (26.67%) identified as male. No respondents had children. The respondents completed a knowledge-based questionnaire. The mean score was 10.8 of a possible 15 points. When asked their comfort level in discussing breastfeeding with a patient, the mean response was rate as a 50.6/100.
Discussions: The medical students at our institution receive limited pre-clinical breastfeeding education. We found that despite having knowledge scores considered “sufficient” or “good”, students did not feel comfortable discussing or counseling patients about breastfeeding during clinical encounters. This study serves as a needs-assessment and a pilot study for the future implementation of a multimedia breastfeeding-curriculum.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2022, Student, Resident, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Medical Knowledge, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, GME, CME, Assessment, Public Health, General Ob-Gyn,
Abigail M. Otto, MD, Loyola University Medical Center; Scott Graziano, MD; Akua Afriyie-Gray, MD
