Health professionals’ attitudes towards breastfeeding among women with schizophrenia: Greek version of a specific rating scale

Abstract

B reastfeeding is the optimal feeding mode for the mother and her child. The pregnancy rates of mothers with schizophrenia do not differ significantly from those of the general population. However, research on breastfeeding among women with schizophrenia is extremely limited. The current study aims to explore the health professionals' attitudes towards breastfeeding among women with schizophrenia in Greece and to examine the validity and reliability of the Greek version of a specific rating scale for further research on attitudes towards breastfeeding among women with schizophrenia. This study had a cross-sectional descriptive design and the participants were health professionals working closely with women/mothers at different health care settings in Athens (health visitors, midwives, nurses working in mental health care). Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire on knowledge and attitudes regarding breastfeeding, knowledge, feelings and attitudes regarding schizophrenia, professional guidance for women with schizophrenia about breastfeeding; and personal and professional attitudes towards breastfeeding among women with schizophrenia. The results of the study showed that health care professionals of different disciplines seemed to have similar positive attitudes towards breastfeeding among women with schizophrenia. Professionals that had attended breastfeeding seminars had significantly greater scores on both knowledge of breastfeeding and attitudes towards breastfeeding. Greater scores on attitudes towards women with schizophrenia and attitudes towards breastfeeding among women with schizophrenia were found in those that had previous contact with a person with schizophrenia. Furthermore, greater scores on attitudes towards women with schizophrenia

RETRACTED: Effect of comprehensive nursing education on self-care ability and psychological state of patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention

“…The nursing staff listened to the patient's chief complaint, answered the patient's questions, and encouraged the patient to actively face the disease and follow-up treatment and nursing with the real cases with better prognosis. If the score of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) 13 was more than 60 and/or the score of the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) 14 was more than 63, the psychotherapy was carried out by mindfulnessbased cognitive therapy, musicotherapy, reading and distraction with other hobbies. If the patient still cannot be effectively relieved, the nursing staff shall contact the psychological and psychiatrist for consultation and give medication intervention according to the doctor's instructions.…”

A mixed methods systematic review exploring infant feeding experiences and support in women with severe mental illness

“…Though several studies were determined to lack methodological quality (Battle et al, 2006 , 2008 ; Bergink et al, 2011 ; Hill et al, 2019 ; Lebedevs et al, 2020 ; Patel et al, 2005 ; Sakellari et al, 2020 ), we did not exclude these based on rigour. Two papers received a ‘yes’ to all critical appraisal questions (Artzi‐Medvedik et al, 2012 ; Challacombe et al, 2016 ), while the remaining studies had some methodological limitations (Baker et al, 2021 ; Bogen et al, 2010 ; Dolman et al, 2016 ; Martini et al, 2019 ; McCauley et al, 2014 ; Pearlstein et al, 2006 ; Taylor et al, 2022 ; Torgersen et al, 2010 ; Xu et al, 2014 ).…”

“…The other qualitative study explored concerns about body shape in the post‐partum and reported findings relating to infant feeding (Patel et al, 2005 ). Two studies focused on HCPs' attitudes towards breastfeeding among women with schizophrenia (Artzi‐Medvedik et al, 2012 ; Sakellari et al, 2020 ). The remaining studies examined infant feeding intentions, outcomes and experiences of women with severe mental health disorders in the perinatal period including schizophrenia, severe depression, eating disorders (EDs), bipolar disorder and post‐partum psychosis (Baker et al, 2021 ; Battle et al, 2008 ; Bogen et al, 2010 ; Martini et al, 2019 ; Taylor et al, 2022 ; Torgersen et al, 2010 ; Xu et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Two studies conducted in Israel and Greece focused on HCPs’ attitudes towards breastfeeding among women with schizophrenia (Artzi‐Medvedik et al, 2012 ; Sakellari et al, 2020 ). Staff included mental health nurses, midwives and health visitors.…”

Improving treatment of women with schizophrenia: a review of the recent literature

“…The postpartum period of a woman's life is a period of high vulnerability to the occurrence of psychiatric symptoms and exacerbation of mental disorders, which may be partly explained by the decline of circulating oestrogens [56]. In fact, the rapid drop of oestradiol at the end of pregnancy has been implicated in the aetiology of postpartum disorders, and oestrogens combined with progesterone have been tested as potential treatments for these conditions [57].…”