Developing an Instrument to Measure Public Health Nurses' Competence Related to Breastfeeding Beyond 12 Months.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Health professionals need adequate competence to support breastfeeding beyond infancy. There is no established instrument to measure health professionals' competence regarding long-term breastfeeding. To respond to this shortcoming, the Long-Term Breastfeeding Competence Scale (LBCS) was developed.

Research aim

To develop and pilot an instrument that measures public health nurses' competence related to breastfeeding beyond 12 months in order to provide adequate breastfeeding counseling for families.

Methods

This study was conducted as a cross-sectional online survey on public health nurses working in maternity and/or child health clinics. The relevance and clarity of the LBCS were assessed by an expert panel (N = 6). Public health nurses (N = 

SUBMITTER: Poyhonen N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11340241 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature