Executive Summary: Optimizing Breastfeeding in a Family Practice Office, A Quality Improvement Initiative to Promote Breastfeeding Support

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding offers benefits for the child, mother, society, and the environment. However, breastfeeding rates still fall short of targets. Factors influencing these rates include maternal and clinician lactation support, education, and self-efficacy.

Aim Statement: A family practice clinic aims to enhance its breastfeeding support by providing an evidence-based, online lactation education and support program for clinicians and families.

Methods: Quality improvement methodologies utilizing the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice

Intervention: Online implementation of HUG Your Baby, the Roadmap to Breastfeeding Success, in a primary care office

Results: The program increased clinicians' knowledge and confidence to teach families about breastfeeding, and confirmed that it was convenient, easy to use, and evidence-based.

Conclusions: This project supports the use of an online breastfeeding education and support program in the primary care setting.