Imperial College London
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DrNatalieShenker

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery & Cancer

Research Fellow
 
 
 
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Contact

 

natalie.shenker

 
 
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Location

 

Institute of Reproductive and Developmental BiologyHammersmith Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Biggs:2020:10.1186/s13006-020-00290-z,
author = {Biggs, KV and Fidler, KJ and Shenker, NS and Brown, H},
doi = {10.1186/s13006-020-00290-z},
journal = {International Breastfeeding Journal},
pages = {1--8},
title = {Are the doctors of the future ready to support breastfeeding? A cross-sectional study in the UK},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13006-020-00290-z},
volume = {15},
year = {2020}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - BackgroundCurrently there is no published data on the inclusion of breastfeeding education within the UK medical school curriculum. This study aims to address this knowledge gap and explore students’ perceptions of their readiness to support breastfeeding.MethodsAn online survey was used to collect data from 32 UK undergraduate medical schools and their students. All students in their final two years of study at the 30 universities offering a 5- or 6-year medicine course, were eligible.ResultsCurriculum data was obtained from 26 (81%) institutions. Compulsory breastfeeding education was provided by 85% (N = 22) institutions with 81% (n = 21) providing lecture-based teaching and 19% (n = 5) offering formal clinical education. Overall, 411 students from 22 institutions participated. A moderate ability to identify the benefits of breastfeeding was observed; however, self-rated confidence in practical skills was poor. Assisting with latching was the least confident skill, with confidence in only 3% (14/411) students. Most students (93%) viewed doctors as playing an important role in breastfeeding, with those interested in either women’s health, paediatrics or general practice perceiving the role of doctors as more important. Overall, 93% (381/411) students requested further breastfeeding education.ConclusionsThis study suggests UK medical schools are not adequately preparing students to support breastfeeding patients. Further studies should explore the competency of doctors to meet the needs of lactating women, and design optimal training for UK medical students.
AU  - Biggs,KV
AU  - Fidler,KJ
AU  - Shenker,NS
AU  - Brown,H
DO  - 10.1186/s13006-020-00290-z
EP  - 8
PY  - 2020///
SN  - 1746-4358
SP  - 1
TI  - Are the doctors of the future ready to support breastfeeding? A cross-sectional study in the UK
T2  - International Breastfeeding Journal
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13006-020-00290-z
UR  - http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000536959200001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
UR  - https://internationalbreastfeedingjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13006-020-00290-z
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/82325
VL  - 15
ER  -
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