BREAST-FEEDING EDUCATION OF OBSTETRICS-GYNECOLOGY RESIDENTS AND PRACTITIONERS

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess breast-feeding education, knowled ge, attitudes, and practices among resident and practicing obstetricia n-gynecologists.STUDY DESIGN: A mailed survey was administered to a na tional sample of resident and practicing obstetrician-gynecologists. R ESULTS: Response rates were 64% for residents and 69% for practitioner s. Residency training included limited opportunity for direct patient interaction regarding breast-feeding; 60% of practitioners recommended that training devote more time to breast-feeding counseling skills. O nly 38% of residents reported that obstetric faculty presented breast- feeding topics; more common sources were nursing staff and other resid ents. Practitioners rated themselves as more effective in meeting the needs of breast-feeding patients than were residents; prior personal b reast-feeding experience was a significant influence on perceived effe ctiveness. Almost all respondents agreed that obstetrician-gynecologis ts have a role in breast-feeding promotion, but significant deficits i n knowledge of breast-feeding benefits and clinical management were fo und. CONCLUSION: Residency training and continuing education programs should create opportunities to practice breast-feeding promotion skill s and emphasize management of common lactation problems.