Measuring health professionals' beliefs about skin‐to‐skin care during a cesarean. Issue 4 (22nd June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crenshaw, Jeannette T.; Adams, Ellise D.; Gilder, Richard E.; Nolte, Hannah G.
• Is Part Of: Maternal and child nutrition. Volume 17:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-06-22
• Subjects: barriers to skin‐to‐skin care -- beliefs and attitudes -- caesarean -- caesarean birth -- caesarean section -- caesarean surgery -- operating room -- operating theatre -- skin‐to‐skin care -- skin‐to‐skin contact; Children -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Infants -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Nutritional aspects -- Periodicals; Breastfeeding -- Periodicals; 363.8083
• DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13219
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-8695

Abstract

Abstract: Women and their newborns are at risk of delayed or withheld skin‐to‐skin care (SSC) during a caesarean, which is about one‐third of births, worldwide. To date, no instrument exists to assess health professionals' (HPs) beliefs, and potential barriers and strategies for implementing SSC during a cesarean. The study aims were to (1) develop an instrument, Health Professionals' Beliefs about Skin‐to‐Skin Care During a Cesarean (SSCB ), (2) establish its validity and reliability and (3) describe HPs' beliefs about SSC during a caesarean. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to test the SSCB and describe HPs' beliefs. SSCB analysis yielded a content validity of 0.83 and reliability of α = 0.9. We grouped all practice roles as either nurses or physicians. The mean rank score for nurses ( n = 120, M = 90) was significantly higher ( p = 0.001) than physicians ( n = 46, M = 79). Despite this difference, scores for both roles reflected support for SSC. Participants identified hospital readiness to implement SSC and maintaining maternal and newborn safety as major issues. SSCB is a valid, reliable instrument to measure HPs' beliefs about SSC during a caesarean birth. HPs can use the SSCB during quality improvement initiatives to improve access to immediate SSC for women who have a caesarean birth. Improved access can enhance breastfeeding outcomes and promote optimal maternal and child health. Abstract : Skin‐to‐skin care during a caesarean