A survey of pediatric nurses' knowledge about breastfeeding

The purpose of this study was to obtain baseline data on pediatric nurses' knowledge about breastfeeding, to inform an education program being developed in a large Melbourne pediatric teaching hospital. A pediatric breastfeeding questionnaire was developed. A random sample of 278 nurses in a variety of clinical units was selected. The questionnaire return rate was 54%. Overall, the difference in the mean percentage knowledge scores between the most experienced and the least experienced nurses was small. The result indicate that an ongoing lactation education program and a Breastfeeding Day-Stay Unit would benefit nursing staff, mothers, and babies.