Open AccessMeasuring health professionals' beliefs about skin‐to‐skin care during a cesarean
Author(s) -
Crenshaw Jeannette T.,
Adams Ellise D.,
Gilder Richard E.,
Nolte Hannah G.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/mcn.13219
Subject(s) - medicine , breastfeeding , health professionals , caesarean delivery , family medicine , reliability (semiconductor) , health care , validity , nursing , pregnancy , obstetrics , caesarean section , pediatrics , clinical psychology , psychometrics , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , biology , economics , genetics , economic growth
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 (SSC B ), (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 SSC B and describe HPs' beliefs. SSC B 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. SSC B is a valid, reliable instrument to measure HPs' beliefs about SSC during a caesarean birth. HPs can use the SSC B 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.