Expectations and experiences of nursing students in supporting new mothers to breastfeed: A descriptive qualitative study.

Improving breastfeeding support to mothers has been the focus of several national and international health organisations. There is evidence that theoretical and clinical education improves breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes among nursing and other health professional students prior to clinical placement, to support women who are breastfeeding. To explore the expectations and experiences of Taiwanese nursing students in supporting breastfeeding on clinical placement. To gain additional insight into student experience, we also sought the perspectives of mothers, nursing staff and teachers about the role of nursing students in supporting breastfeeding mothers. A qualitative descriptive approach guided this study. Focus groups and small group interviews were conducted with four participant groups in southern Taiwan. Ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research checklist was used. Three main themes emerged from the data that captured the nursing students' experiences during clinical practice, which were "High expectations"; "The reality is different"; and "Improving confidence in students." The study found that students lacked confidence in supporting breastfeeding in the clinical setting. Students were expected to support women to achieve their breastfeeding goals under the supervision. The students highlighted the importance of establishing trust to effectively support mothers, and for the students to feel confident to provide the breastfeeding information. Despite structured theoretical breastfeeding education prior to clinical placement, students did not feel they were adequately prepared to support women who are breastfeeding during their clinical placement. The findings demonstrated the need for further support in developing effective communication skills and building confidence prior to clinical placement. Enhancing the content of theoretical and simulated breastfeeding education to incorporate women's breastfeeding experience combined with realistic clinical student allocation could serve to improve students' confidence in supporting breastfeeding.

Yang SF ，Burns E ，Salamonson Y ，Schmied V ... -  《-》

Breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of baccalaureate nursing students in Taiwan: A cohort study.

Optimal nutrition during the first year of life is critical to infants' healthy growth and development. Hence, it is vital that undergraduate health professional curricula provide good quality learning environments to enable students to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to support breastfeeding mothers. To examine the change in knowledge and attitude in Taiwanese nursing students following theoretical and clinical learning experiences on breastfeeding. This study used a pre-test/post-test survey design with two cohorts of nursing students (N=215). Knowledge and attitude were assessed before and after: (a) theoretical (didactic and skills laboratory) education in Cohort One, and (b) clinical placement in Cohort Two. Students in both cohorts demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge and attitude post-theoretical education, and post-clinical placement. Prior to theoretical education in Cohort One, those with experience of close family members being breastfed were more than 14 times (adjusted odds ratio: 14.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.73-114.64) to be in the high knowledge group. However, following theoretical or clinical education, there were no sociodemographic group differences in breastfeeding knowledge or attitude in Cohorts One or Two. Results revealed that the current breastfeeding education program in Taiwan, both theoretical and clinical components, increased nursing students' knowledge and improved positive attitudes towards breastfeeding, and any sociodemographic differences in knowledge and attitude about breastfeeding were ameliorated following theoretical and clinical placement experience focused on breastfeeding.

Yang SF ，Schmied V ，Burns E ，Salamonson Y ... -  《-》

Student and educator experiences of maternal-child simulation-based learning: a systematic review of qualitative evidence protocol.

MacKinnon K ，Marcellus L ，Rivers J ，Gordon C ，Ryan M ，Butcher D ... -  《-》

UK women's experiences of breastfeeding and additional breastfeeding support: a qualitative study of Baby Café services.

Fox R ，McMullen S ，Newburn M 《BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth》

Nourishing two hearts: The journey of nursing student mothers during academic studies and clinical rotations: A qualitative study.

Glick L ，Heifetz EM ，Finkelstein A 《-》