Breastfeeding information in nursing textbooks needs improvement

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Lactation Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Accurate breastfeeding information is crucial for maternal and child health.
• Nursing textbooks are a primary source of this information for future healthcare professionals.
• Previous assessments of textbook content accuracy have been limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy and timeliness of breastfeeding information presented in US maternal-child nursing textbooks.
• To identify specific areas of inaccuracy and omission in current nursing educational materials.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of six nursing textbooks published since 1999.
• Content analysis using a standardized scoring sheet based on American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization recommendations.
• Evaluation by a multidisciplinary team including pediatricians and lactation consultants.

Main Results:

• Textbooks included an average of 17 out of 20 key breastfeeding facts.
• Of the facts included, an average of 5.2 were incorrect and 3.0 were omitted.
• Individual textbook scores ranged from 50% to 75% accuracy for breastfeeding content.

Conclusions:

• Breastfeeding information in reviewed nursing textbooks is frequently inaccurate and inconsistent.
• Educational materials require updates to ensure accurate and comprehensive breastfeeding guidance for nursing students.
• Improving textbook content is essential for promoting evidence-based breastfeeding support.