[ECoLaE: Validation of a questionnaire on breastfeeding knowledge and skills for Nursing]

To validate the "Questionnaire on breastfeeding knowledge and skills" in Nurses (EcoLa).

A validation study, with prior linguistic adaptation, according to the skills and training of the nurses.

Cantabria.

General nurses, paediatrics specialists, and midwives from the Cantabrian Health Service, with responsibility for mother-child care.

The psychometric properties of the nursing version of ECoLa were evaluated. Internal consistency was measured using α-Cronbach for multiple choice and overall answer questions, and Kuder-Richardson's formula (KR20) for dichotomous response questions. Inter-observer concordance was measured using the kappa coefficient in items 18 and 21, and the test-retest reliability with 11 subjects using the intraclass correlation coefficient.

The mean score in the questionnaire was 21.15±4.67 points. There were no statistically significant differences as regards the gender or number of children. There was an association between the score obtained in the questionnaire and previous experience in lactation, and with the professional profile (midwife 24.23 points, paediatric nurse 21.20 points, and general nurse 20 points; P<.01). The internal consistency showed a KR20 of 0.802, and the α-Cronbach for multiple-choice questions was 0.719, and 0.866 for overall. Interobserver concordance for Item 18 had a kappa=0.6, for item 30 kappa=0.825), and for total score the kappa=0.856). The test-retest reliability overall score (CCI=0.856, 95% CI 0.55-0.96), and for question 30 (CCI=0.93, 95% CI 0.75-0.98).

The questionnaire scale has psychometric properties that make its use valid and reliable in the evaluation of the training of nursing professionals.