GOLD Learning Speakers

Canadian physicians are ill-equipped to support breastfeeding mothers as their confidence, attitudes and knowledge are known to be suboptimal. We developed, delivered, and evaluated a combination of continuing professional development (CPD) activities targeting specific gaps uncovered in our previous Canadian physicians’ breastfeeding assessment, with the ultimate goal of encouraging participants to integrate new skills and knowledge in their practice. Methods We developed and delivered an interactive workshop to facilitate physicians’ ability to support patients’ breastfeeding practices. We distributed communication tools to improve information retention. We performed phone outreach 4 to 8 weeks post workshop to reinforce take-home messages, gather information on implementation of breastfeeding support practices taught at the workshop, and to gather information on physicians’ current perceptions and practices. Participation, satisfaction with the CPD activities and learning were tracked through questionnaires and follow-up phone outreach. We aimed to recruit 30 to 40 physicians but recruited 7. Results Workshop participation increased participants’ confidence in breastfeeding counseling skills, improved their knowledge, and was associated with a desire to change clinical practice. The workshop was rated as relevant, interesting, effective, and helpful. Conclusion Physician recruitment was much more difficult than anticipated, and a large selection bias was inevitable as only physicians with a keen interest in learning about breastfeeding participated in the study. However, our participants rated the intervention very positively. Given the difficulty in recruitment, a more feasible approach needs to be adapted and evaluated. In future, we will target the intervention at residency level.

In this presentation, Dr Pound will discuss the evidence supporting the importance of physician support, in order to encourage and maintain successful breastfeeding. An overview of recent research of Canadian physicians’ attitudes, comfort and knowledge with regards to breastfeeding will be provided, with a particular emphasis on specific knowledge gaps. Clinical scenarios will be discussed, in which ways to address breastfeeding difficulties will be examined, from the physician’s standpoint. Common universal myths and pitfalls will be addressed, and ways to efficiently integrate breastfeeding assessment into one’s clinical practice.