Breastfeeding assessment and management instruments: a scoping review protocol

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Evidence Synthesis
• Healthcare Research Methodology

Background:

• Breastfeeding practices are crucial for maternal and infant health.
• Various instruments exist for assessing and managing breastfeeding, but a comprehensive overview is lacking.
• Understanding these tools is vital for effective implementation in healthcare services to promote breastfeeding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review protocol to map existing assessment and management instruments for breastfeeding.
• To identify the constructs, domains, and contexts of utilization for these breastfeeding instruments.
• To provide a foundation for disseminating and implementing effective breastfeeding promotion tools.

Main Methods:

• Protocol for a scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology.
• Comprehensive search of multiple databases (PubMed, Lilacs, Cochrane Library, Embase) in March 2024.
• Inclusion of peer-reviewed studies on breastfeeding evaluation instruments during the puerperium, with data extraction and synthesis by pairs.

Main Results:

• The review will identify and categorize breastfeeding assessment and management instruments.
• Data will be synthesized based on the postpartum period (immediate, remote, late) of instrument application.
• The constructs, domains, and contexts of utilization for each instrument will be detailed.

Conclusions:

• This scoping review will provide a comprehensive map of breastfeeding assessment and management instruments.
• The findings will aid in understanding the applicability and dissemination of tools to promote breastfeeding.
• The results will inform healthcare providers and policymakers on effective breastfeeding support strategies.