Application and evaluation of the best practice guideline: Breastfeeding

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the progress of care in the promotion of breastfeeding and describe breastfeeding results following the implementation of the RNAO guideline in various types of national health centres.

Method: Quantitative descriptive longitudinal study of the results of implementing the recommendations of the RNAO-Breastfeeding guideline in 9 national health centres following the implementation methodology of the programme of the Best Practice Spotlight Organization®. Process and result variables are collected at hospital level and in primary care by registering on the CAREVID platform. The weighted mean was calculated as a summary statistic.

Results: The implementation of the recommendations of the Breastfeeding guideline was associated with a relative increase in: skin-to-skin contact 57,7% (p < 0,000), exclusive breastfeeding in the 1st intake 47,8% (p < 0,000), exclusive breastfeeding on hospital discharge 18,4% (p < 0,000) and prenatal education 63,95% (p < 0,00).

Conclusion: The implementation of the RNAO-Breastfeeding guideline in different national health centres has increased the application of the recommendations based on scientific evidence, generalising appropriate breastfeeding care (such as prenatal education, application of skin-to-skin contact and exclusive breastfeeding in the first intake) and is consequently significantly approaching the international recommendations on breastfeeding.

Keywords: Best Practice Spotlight Organization®; Breast feeding; Centro Comprometido con la Excelencia en Cuidados®; Educación prenatal; Guía de práctica clínica; Lactancia materna; Practice guideline; Prenatal education.