Development and Validation of Breastfeeding After Bariatric Surgery Scale
Seyedeh Samira Mokhlesi1, Vidanka Vasilevski1,2, Linda Sweet1,2
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia.
Summary
A new scale, the Breastfeeding after Bariatric Surgery Scale (BBSS), has been developed to assess the unique breastfeeding experiences of women post-bariatric surgery. This validated tool offers reliable insights into maternal challenges and support systems.
Area of Science:
- Bariatric surgery outcomes
- Maternal health and nutrition
- Psychometric scale development
Background:
- Increasing bariatric surgeries in women of reproductive age necessitate understanding their breastfeeding experiences.
- Existing breastfeeding questionnaires do not capture the specific challenges faced by this population.
- Tailored assessment tools are crucial for supporting breastfeeding mothers post-bariatric surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a psychometric scale measuring breastfeeding experiences in women with a history of bariatric surgery.
- To create a reliable instrument for assessing factors influencing breastfeeding in this unique demographic.
- To provide a tool for healthcare providers to better support breastfeeding mothers post-bariatric surgery.
Main Methods:
- Development of the Breastfeeding after Bariatric Surgery Scale (BBSS) through literature review and theory of planned behavior.
- Content and face validity assessed by expert panels.
- Exploratory factor analysis, reliability, and responsiveness testing conducted.
Main Results:
- The final 22-item BBSS scale comprises five domains: healthcare provider support, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, positive breastfeeding experience, and negative feelings/challenges.
- The scale explained 63.19% and 69.70% of the total variance.
- High reliability indicated by Cronbach's alpha (>0.70) and intraclass correlation coefficients (>0.75).
Conclusions:
- The developed Breastfeeding after Bariatric Surgery Scale (BBSS) demonstrates acceptable validity and reliability.
- The BBSS is suitable for measuring breastfeeding behaviors and experiences in mothers who have undergone bariatric surgery.
- This scale can aid in identifying specific needs and improving support for this patient group.
