Medical and Allied Health Students’ Knowledge About Nutritional and Immunological Properties of Breast Milk

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This study was conducted to determine medical and allied health students’ knowledge of immunological and nutritional aspects of breast milk, and to assess the preferred method for continuing education to improve knowledge about breast milk. Methods A descriptive study was conducted using an anonymous online survey administered to undergraduate and graduate students in medical, nursing, nutrition/dietetics and physician assistant training programs at a Midwestern university. A 40-item questionnaire, delivered in Qualtrics, had 5 demographic items, 29 multiple choice or true/false items about immunological and nutritional properties of breast milk, and 6 items on educational resources. Content validity of the survey was established using input from one member of IBCLC and three Registered Dietitians. A survey link was distributed by e-mail to 1396 prospective participants. Frequencies of responses, cross-tabulations, and descriptive statistics were determined. Between group differences knowledge scores were analyzed using independent t-test and ANOVA with post hoc tests (P < .05). Results The response rate was 5.6%. The mean knowledge score of the 78 participants was 49.5% ± 6.8% out of 29 items. The nutrition/dietetics students had the highest mean knowledge score of 51% ± 5%, followed closely by those from physician assistant (50% ± 7%), medical (49% ± 7%), and nursing (48% ± 8%) disciplines. The differences in mean knowledge scores among the students were not statistically significant (P = .948). Overall, 67% of students reported that the preferred method for continuing education to learn about breast milk was through an online course, over attending a seminar/workshop (60%), course in a class (37%), reading journal articles (34%), attending a professional meeting (32%), or learning from books (20%). Conclusions The low scores demonstrated a deficit in knowledge regarding the nutritional and immunological properties of breast milk among both medical and allied health students. Improving knowledge in this area by taking an online course was the preferred method by both undergraduate and graduate students in these health care fields. Funding Sources Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP)