Dr Gabrielle Cher1,2, Dr Diana Bond3, Professor Natasha Nassar3, Ms Katy Hunt1, Ms Olga Aleshin1, Dr Jane Svensson1, Dr Antonia Shand1,3
1The Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, Australia, 2University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 3Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Biography:
Dr Gabrielle Cher is an Obstetrics and Gynaecology trainee and clinical researcher with a special interest in advocating for women’s health and gender equity. She is a Conjoint Associate Lecturer at UNSW and an executive committee member for the Medical Women’s Society of NSW.
Abstract:
Background: The extent and impact of breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes among doctors working in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the breastfeeding attitudes, knowledge, confidence, and education of O&G specialists and trainees in Australia and New Zealand.
Methods: An online REDCap questionnaire was distributed via email in February 2023 to fellows and trainees of the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG). The survey included demographic, attitude, knowledge, and confidence-based questions about breastfeeding.
Results: Of 341 (11%) respondents, two-thirds (63%) were aged >40 years, 75% were specialists, 78% were female and two-thirds had personally breastfed. Half had no formal breastfeeding education. Knowledge was generally good with 50% scoring >=10/12 (>83%) knowledge questions correctly. Specific deficits identified included breast milk handling after radiological procedures, infant side effects of maternal antibiotics and low milk supply. Factors associated with higher knowledge scores included being female, younger age, <5 years in practice, trainees, and personal breastfeeding history (p<.001). After adjusting for sex, age, years in practice and breastfeeding history, personal breastfeeding experience remained the main factor associated with higher knowledge (β=0.45 (95%CI 0.12, 0.78) and confidence scores (β=0.47 (95% CI 0.18, 0.76). Overall, 60% said that they would value more breastfeeding education. Higher attitude scores were associated with extra training (p=0.02) and personal breastfeeding (p<0.001).
Conclusions: Understanding factors that impact breastfeeding attitudes and confidence and identifying knowledge gaps of RANZCOG specialists and trainees can help to create, inform, and improve educational programs and guidelines specifically catered towards O&G doctors. Regular training and updates should be implemented as part of ongoing clinical practice guidelines.
Keywords
Breastfeeding knowledge, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, education