Assessing the knowledge and confidence of neonatal unit clinicians to support breastfeeding and the practices to support parents in direct care of their baby using the Neonatal Unit Clinician Assessment Tool (NUCAT) in England

摘要

Every year in the UK, more than 80,000 babies spend time in neonatal units due to prematurity or sickness (Bliss, 2011). While these babies receive outstanding care as standard, less attention is paid to non-clinical issues and how these affect families and babies. There is a strong body of evidence to support improved health outcomes from increasing parental confidence and interaction (Weimer et al., 2006; Isler, 2007). In order to ensure clinicians provide support for parental engagement and breastfeeding, it is important to ascertain clinical staff knowledge and confidence in practices within their current working environment (Wallace et al., 2013).