Important Role of Medical Training Curriculum to Promote the Rate of Human Milk Feeding

Abstract

The rate of human milk feeding has been decreasing despite the diverse efforts of many physicians and nurses, as well as numerous professional organizations and various international health institutions. The number of physicians and nurses who can provide proper guidance for human milk feeding and offer appropriate knowledge and techniques to allow the most beneficial and convenient manner of breastfeeding is quite deficient. It is suggested that physicians and nurses be trained to teach and educate about the medical importance of human milk feeding to lactating mothers. This can be accomplished through systemic changes in medical education and clinical practice. However, the curricula of medical schools in Korea do not provide enough education and training to effect an increase in human milk feeding. The author strongly recommends that the educational objectives for medical schools and resident training offer more education and training concerning so that they are well aware of breastfeeding basics and techniques, and have ability to solve lactation-associated clinical problems.

INTRODUCTION

Many physicians are well aware of the benefits of human milk feeding. It is well-known that human milk-fed infants correlate with higher IQ than formula-fed infants as documented from a meta-analysis study [1]; this may be one of the most attractive advantages of human milk. Other benefits include that milk is species specific, so human breast milk is evolved for human infants and must be regarded as the standard. It is associated with improved outcomes in childhood health, maternal health and public health. Most antenatal pregnant women commit to a goal of exclusive breastfeeding (BF), but the rate of BF even during the first 6 months remains quite low despite the aggressive and sincere efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United National International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). To enhance appropriate human milk feeding just after birth, WHO and UNICEF initiated the “Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative” (BFHI) in 1991 (Table 1) [2]. The Certificate of BFHI is awarded according to a hospital's fulfillment of the “Ten steps program for BFHI”. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) endorsed the Ten Steps program in 2009, and promotes adherence to these 10 steps in order to enhance the rate of BF initiation after birth, the proper duration of BF during infancy, and a commitment to exclusive BF (EBF). Most hospitals with maternity practices are managed under BFHI, but the mean score for execution of all Ten Steps was only 65% [3,4]. Even worse, studies have shown that 58% of participating hospitals erroneously advised lactating mothers concerning BF-related problems and baby care [5]. By implementation of the AAP recommendations based on the initiative began by the WHO and UNICEF, the rate of BF in USA has been greatly increased: ever human milk feeding, the rate is 81.1%, and EBF continuing to 6 months stands at 22.3% by a CDC survey taken in 2014-2015 among 2013 births [6].

Table 1. Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding Organized by World Health Organization (WHO), United National International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Adapted from WHO, UNICEF. Baby friendly hospital initiative: revised, updated and expanded for integrated care. Section 1: background and implementation. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2009 [2].

On the other hand, the rate of EBF at the age of 1 month in Korea is 52.6%, at 3 months 47.2%, and then it drops sharply down to 9.4% according to a recent government report from 2015 [7]. In 2015, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea set 2020 health project goals which include achieving a 66.8% BF rate at the age of 6 months [8]. This may be an even more difficult goal since a more recent Korean government report from 2016 showed a much lower rate of EBF in Korea. The rate of EBF at 1 month of age was improved at 55.8% but then radically falls to the bottom with a rate of only 5.6% at 6 months old [9].

THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

A national survey conducted through telephone interviews with 1,229 women with children less than 3 years old in the States showed that the encouragement of BF by physician or nurses inspired BF initiation in 74.6% of mothers, whereas only 43.2% of those women who had not been encouraged by their healthcare givers did BF [10]. This study strongly indicates the importance of support and education for BF by physicians and nurses.

Since a nationwide survey of pediatrician's attitudes concerning BF was conducted in 1995, pediatricians have explored the promotion and support of various methods and protocols for BF, and have conducted many studies concerning the benefits related to human milk. Owing to these efforts, the overall rate of BF in the States has jumped from 59% in 1995 to 81.1% in 2013 at the time of birth, and from 22% in 1995 to 51.8% in 2004 at the age of 6 months [11,12]. During this period, another nationwide survey of United States pediatricians performed in 2004, reported that more of them had received education about the successful management of BF while in medical school or during their pediatric residency in the period before 2004 than those trained before 1995. Pediatricians trained until 2004 recommended EBF more strongly than those trained before 1995 and were more likely to follow supportive hospital policies [13]. Since the national survey in 1995, pediatricians have been more receptive to efforts that increase the rate of BF, to receive education about BF, and to set up hospital policies for BF. But, those efforts have gradually faded, as noted in the survey performed in 2004. Pediatricians continue to discourage mothers from stopping or giving up BF with no absolute contraindications rather than those seen in the 1995 survey. The major reasons for which many pediatricians do not recommend BF were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection of the mother, drug abuse by the mother, medication taken by the mother, the mother's opposition to BF, infected nipples, too young age of the mother, inadequate nipples of the mother, inconvenience, slow weight gain of the baby, healthy jaundice in the infant, and cracked nipples. None of these reasons are an absolute contraindication for BF, and even a mother's HIV infection does not necessarily block BF if a baby's health issue is more serious, especially in a developing nation or locale.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BREASTFEEDING EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

Since the 2004 survey, additional educational resources and materials have been developed to increase physician support for BF, which includes the Breastfeeding Handbook for Physicians, a joint publication of the AAP and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. At national meetings of the AAP, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, diverse educational sessions have been offered. In addition, a multispecialty BF residency curriculum has been initiated as a major priority. The policy for the Breastfeeding Residency Curriculum for pediatric residents offered by AAP includes providing training in more than one rotation, throughout the residency, with pre-tests and post-tests before and after BF medicine education, and Resident Care Evaluation through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Core Competencies [14]. The AAP suggests that beginning this General Implementation Strategy is the best way to accomplish the curricular objectives. A summary of this strategy is introduced in Table 2 [15].

Table 2. General Implementation Strategy for the Breastfeeding Residency Curriculum Provided by American Academy of Pediatrics.

Adapted from American Academy of Pediatrics. Breastfeeding: implementation strategies [15].

Most physicians, not only pediatricians, have opportunities to meet and support lactating mothers both in and out of the hospital. Setting aside consultations which concern a variety of lactation-associated problems and troubles, it is strongly encouraged that physicians do their best to encourage BF to mothers under any circumstances as much as possible. Therefore the education of BF medicine needs to be executed in medical school and nursing school. Kakrani et al. [16] have studied the awareness about the Ten Steps for successful BF policy among medical students and nursing students in India. They were well aware about step 2 (training), step 6 (no supplement), step 7 (rooming-in), and step 9 (no pacifier). The students gave the least correct answers concerning step 10 (community support), step 8 (cues), step 1 (written policy), and step 3 (pre- and post-natal information). There was no difference between the male and female respondents except in two steps (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Stepwise correct answer about Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative among medical and nursing students. Modified from Kakrani et al. (Int J Prev Med 2015;6:40 [16].

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine presented a statement concerning inclusion of BF medicine in the educational objectives for undergraduate and graduate medical education curriculum in 2011 [17]. The statement strongly suggests that medical students learn about BF medicine, which includes the anatomy, endocrine control and physiology of breast and mammary glands, biochemical and immunological aspects of human milk, and the influence of BF on individual health and social issues. It also suggests that medical student have multiple opportunities during clinical training to participate in solving BF-associated problems and in supporting and encouraging BF. In order to achieve these goals, education needs to be set up as block rotations, with case- and system-based learning in preclinical learning, and clinical rotations at mother-child clinics in pediatrics, obstetrics, and family medicine.

It is also remarkable to find that some medical schools in the States provide a system and facility for their lactating students. Taylor et al. [18] faculties in the department of Clinical Curriculum of the Medical School of Brown University, have tried to find good support guides for parent students, and reported some suggestions. One main suggestion was to institute a formal policy regarding BF and workplace support.

EDUCATIONAL METHODS FOR BREASTFEEDING MEDICINE IN MEDICAL SCHOOL AND RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM

There are recommended educational methods for BF education in the medical school.

Multidisciplinary approach

A successful multidisciplinary approach was set up for the BF curriculum for residents and medical students based on the Wellstart Lactation Curriculum Guide [19] at New Mexico University [20]. This curriculum was implemented by faculties from the obstetrics, pediatrics, and family medicine departments and includes interactive teaching sessions, opportune discussions of BF issues during all clinical rounds, and the inclusion of lactation-supporting personnel in meetings with patients. The didactic sessions covered 4 topics; anatomy and physiology of lactation, common problems confronted by lactating mothers, common problems in BF babies, and the promotion and support of BF. Medical students were required to attend all 4 didactic sessions during their clinical rotation in obstetrics. One educational effort evaluated as very fruitful was the provision of self-study modules, composed of various topics of 15-pages, which were placed in newborn nursery and delivery rooms.

Interactive learning sessions, clinical practice which includes visiting lactating mothers, and problem-solving operated by lactation professionals are not currently set up in Korean medical school curriculum. These teaching methods are strongly recommended to medical school faculties.

Web-based learning

The internet site at www.BreastfeedingBasics.org, developed by the faculty at Case Western Reserve University and available since April 1999, offered free BF education for health care providers and students. There are 7 modules: (1) benefits and barriers of BF, (2) anatomy and physiology of mammary glands, (3) growth and development in the breastfed infant, (4) BF around the world, (5) the BF couple, (6) breast-feeding issues in term infants, and (7) human milk and drugs. Each module indicates clear learning objectives; offers didactic information including pictures, radiologic findings, and case studies; and includes a pre- and post-test composed of three question. The effectiveness was studied and reported in 2012 by Lewin and O'Connor [21]. More than 15,000 healthcare providers and medical students studied BF medicine through the content offered at “Breastfeeding Basics” between April 1999 and December 2009. Their pretest and posttest score significantly increased (p<0.001) for all the modules, and suggests that this online education offers time- and cost-effectiveness compared to offline education. This web site of www.breastfeedingbasics.org is not available currently, but web-based BF training and educational resources are also provided through several recently developed web-based learning tools, which are www.wellstart.org by UCSD Medical Center and Vermont College of Medicine, Tulane Knowledge to Practice Program, Supporting and Promoting Breastfeeding in Health Care Settings by Tulane University Mary Amelia Women's Center, Supporting and Promoting Breastfeeding in Health Care Settings by University at Albany School of Public Health.

Problem-based workshop

In 1998, a project for a skill-based experiential curriculum to be integrated into residency education was initiated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison [22]. Second- and third-year residents at the department of family practice were enrolled and they received baseline examinations and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) over a 2 week period. In 30 days, the intervention group attended a 4.5 hour BF workshop. After another 30 days, the intervention and the control groups again completed the paper examination and OSCE. The workshop was a 4.5-hour time block during a regularly scheduled conference period. The scores for the OSCE after intervention were significantly higher than the control group for assessing feeding position and latching and for offering support for sore nipples. The residents in the intervention group reported feeling more confident in BF-related problem-solving (p<0.001).

Problem-based learning (PBL) is current practice in most medical schools in Korea. If medical schools incorporate BF medicine into the basic learning objectives of PBL and OSCE, medical students will have more opportunity to study BF medicine.

CONCLUSION

A well-rounded BF education for medical students and residents through various educational modalities integrated into clinical rotations would lead medical professionals and medical students to increase support for lactating mothers and provide healthcare givers confidence to solve BF-related problems. Better support by the faculties of medical school and the health care system is needed to make the promotion of BF for infants successful.