The planning of a national breastfeeding educational intervention for medical residents

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is the ideal form of nutrition for newborns, yet our recent pan-Canadian study showed that the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of primary care pediatricians and family physicians are suboptimal with regard to breastfeeding. OBJECTIVE: We aim to develop, implement, and evaluate a national breastfeeding educational intervention at the postgraduate residency level. METHODS: Our initial development process is informed by Kern’s approach to curriculum development. To date, we have completed breastfeeding education needs assessment surveys of both practicing physicians and medical residents. We have also developed learning outcomes as well as possible strategies for implementing and evaluating this future educational intervention. RESULTS: The results of our needs assessment surveys provided a rationale to develop a breastfeeding educational intervention for medical residents. Through stakeholder consultations, we have developed five initial learning outcomes for a national breastfeeding educational intervention. We have also identified promising strategies for implementing and evaluating the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic process has provided an opportunity to create a national breastfeeding educational intervention for medical residents. It has fostered collaboration between experts and knowledge users, with the goal of impacting breastfeeding rates and duration of women, which will lead to improved maternal and child outcomes.