Are pediatric residents in Saudi Arabia equipped to provide breastfeeding care? a cross-sectional study
Background: There is a progressive reduction in breastfeeding rates in Saudi Arabia. Counseling and support from health-care providers are useful in overcoming barriers to continuing breastfeeding. However, medical education and residency programs often do not adequately provide breastfeeding traini...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sjmms.net/article.asp?issn=1658-631X;year=2023;volume=11;issue=4;spage=319;epage=325;aulast=Bahawi |
| _version_ | 1797226165487796224 |
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| author | Yara O Bahawi Heidi K Al-Wassia Saud A Bahaidarah Faisal S Aloufi Mohammed A Aljehani Rafah A Alfaydi Jana S Alghamdi |
| author_facet | Yara O Bahawi Heidi K Al-Wassia Saud A Bahaidarah Faisal S Aloufi Mohammed A Aljehani Rafah A Alfaydi Jana S Alghamdi |
| author_sort | Yara O Bahawi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: There is a progressive reduction in breastfeeding rates in Saudi Arabia. Counseling and support from health-care providers are useful in overcoming barriers to continuing breastfeeding. However, medical education and residency programs often do not adequately provide breastfeeding training.
Objective: To determine the knowledge, comfort level, perception, and clinical practices of pediatric residents regarding breastfeeding in Saudi Arabia and to measure the level and type of education received during their residency training.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included pediatric residents from across Saudi Arabia who were registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Sciences and was conducted from February 2021 to January 2022. A validated self-reported questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Knowledge score was calculated as a percentage of correct answers.
Results: A total of 253 residents completed the survey. The mean knowledge score was 58.4% ± 22.7%, which was lower than the cut-off threshold of good knowledge. Almost half of the residents (49.4%) were confident about addressing breastfeeding-related concerns. Although nearly all residents (91.7%) agreed that breastfeeding promotion is part of their role, 35% never or rarely met the mother before birth to discuss breastfeeding. Didactic teaching was the most prevalent educational tool during their training (34.3%); however, most residents preferred learning through interactive workshops (83.7%) and following lactation consultants (82.8%).
Conclusion: Despite positive perceptions and confidence in providing breastfeeding care, pediatric residents in Saudi Arabia lack optimal knowledge of breastfeeding. These findings indicate the need for enhancing breastfeeding curricula in pediatric residency programs to improve breastfeeding consultation and management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:20:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85685099f0de4b9883ac65aab7237f03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1658-631X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:20:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-85685099f0de4b9883ac65aab7237f032024-04-03T06:42:58ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsSaudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences1658-631X2023-01-0111431932510.4103/sjmms.sjmms_208_22Are pediatric residents in Saudi Arabia equipped to provide breastfeeding care? a cross-sectional studyYara O BahawiHeidi K Al-WassiaSaud A BahaidarahFaisal S AloufiMohammed A AljehaniRafah A AlfaydiJana S AlghamdiBackground: There is a progressive reduction in breastfeeding rates in Saudi Arabia. Counseling and support from health-care providers are useful in overcoming barriers to continuing breastfeeding. However, medical education and residency programs often do not adequately provide breastfeeding training. Objective: To determine the knowledge, comfort level, perception, and clinical practices of pediatric residents regarding breastfeeding in Saudi Arabia and to measure the level and type of education received during their residency training. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included pediatric residents from across Saudi Arabia who were registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Sciences and was conducted from February 2021 to January 2022. A validated self-reported questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Knowledge score was calculated as a percentage of correct answers. Results: A total of 253 residents completed the survey. The mean knowledge score was 58.4% ± 22.7%, which was lower than the cut-off threshold of good knowledge. Almost half of the residents (49.4%) were confident about addressing breastfeeding-related concerns. Although nearly all residents (91.7%) agreed that breastfeeding promotion is part of their role, 35% never or rarely met the mother before birth to discuss breastfeeding. Didactic teaching was the most prevalent educational tool during their training (34.3%); however, most residents preferred learning through interactive workshops (83.7%) and following lactation consultants (82.8%). Conclusion: Despite positive perceptions and confidence in providing breastfeeding care, pediatric residents in Saudi Arabia lack optimal knowledge of breastfeeding. These findings indicate the need for enhancing breastfeeding curricula in pediatric residency programs to improve breastfeeding consultation and management.http://www.sjmms.net/article.asp?issn=1658-631X;year=2023;volume=11;issue=4;spage=319;epage=325;aulast=Bahawiattitudebreastfeedingcomfortinfantknowledgepediatricspracticephysician's roleresidencysaudi arabia |
| spellingShingle | Yara O Bahawi Heidi K Al-Wassia Saud A Bahaidarah Faisal S Aloufi Mohammed A Aljehani Rafah A Alfaydi Jana S Alghamdi Are pediatric residents in Saudi Arabia equipped to provide breastfeeding care? a cross-sectional study Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences attitude breastfeeding comfort infant knowledge pediatrics practice physician's role residency saudi arabia |
| title | Are pediatric residents in Saudi Arabia equipped to provide breastfeeding care? a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Are pediatric residents in Saudi Arabia equipped to provide breastfeeding care? a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Are pediatric residents in Saudi Arabia equipped to provide breastfeeding care? a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are pediatric residents in Saudi Arabia equipped to provide breastfeeding care? a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Are pediatric residents in Saudi Arabia equipped to provide breastfeeding care? a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | are pediatric residents in saudi arabia equipped to provide breastfeeding care a cross sectional study |
| topic | attitude breastfeeding comfort infant knowledge pediatrics practice physician's role residency saudi arabia |
| url | http://www.sjmms.net/article.asp?issn=1658-631X;year=2023;volume=11;issue=4;spage=319;epage=325;aulast=Bahawi |
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