Important Role of Medical Training Curriculum to Promote the Rate of Human Milk Feeding

Abstract

The rate of human milk feeding has been decreasing despite the diverse efforts of many physicians and nurses, as well as numerous professional organizations and various international health institutions. The number of physicians and nurses who can provide proper guidance for human milk feeding and offer appropriate knowledge and techniques to allow the most beneficial and convenient manner of breastfeeding is quite deficient. It is suggested that physicians and nurses be trained to teach and educate about the medical importance of human milk feeding to lactating mothers. This can be accomplished through systemic changes in medical education and clinical practice. However, the curricula of medical schools in Korea do not provide enough education and training to effect an increase in human milk feeding. The author strongly recommends that the educational objectives for medical schools and resident training offer more education and training concerning so that they are well aware of breastfeeding basics and techniques, and have ability to solve lactation-associated clinical problems.

Positive Effect of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiatives on Improving Mothers' Intention for Successful Breastfeeding in Korea

“…The spread of the importance of the BFHI has a greater likelihood of being accomplished if these initiatives are included in the curriculums of medical schools and postgraduate medical training programs. This view has already been strongly asserted in the article by Kim 23 in 2017, which suggested that medical education programs for BF would help medical trainees and students to achieve a basic knowledge of BF, to perform successful BF techniques, and to possess the ability to solve BF-associated difficulties and clinical issues.…”

A case study on breastfeeding education in Lebanon’s public medical school: exploring the potential role of social networks in medical education

“…However, suboptimal uptake of this knowledge by physicians is not uncommon [10,11], and insufficient breastfeeding promotion and support is one contributor to low breastfeeding exclusivity, initiation, and continuation rates [9,12–18]. Physicians may be particularly influential in communities where availability of and access to lactation consultants is limiting or when physicians are culturally considered as the most trusted experts compared with other health professionals [19,20].…”

“…Around the globe, limited knowledge, negative beliefs, and lack of interest in the topic of breastfeeding have been reported [15,18,19,21–23]. It may be possible to overcome these barriers in part through early interventions beginning in undergraduate medical schools and extending to relevant residency programs [10,11]. One provocative idea is to use social network theory in the medical education environment to understand and influence the beliefs and behavior of future physicians before they become well-established in their own clinical workflow [1,4,24].…”

The resurgent influence of big formula

“…Without strong institutions at the heart of medicine, the provision of unbiased medical education is questionable. There is a global imperative to create fully independent infant feeding curriculums and resources for medical students and doctors 318…”