Olivia W. Kendrick

Knowledge and attitudes toward breast-feeding: Differences among dietitians, nurses, and physicians working with WIC clients

We assessed the knowledge of and attitude toward breast-feeding of dietitians, nurses, and physicians who work with individuals in the Alabama Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children. On a scale of 0 to 100, dietitians expressed stronger interest in lactation (78.6) and exhibited greater knowledge (79.6) of the questions asked than nurses (74.5 and 73.0, respectively). Attitude and knowledge scores of physicians (70.2 and 75.5, respectively) were not statistically different from those of dietitians or nurses. Respondents disagreed greatly about the relationship of breast-feeding to weight loss and the appropriateness of oral contraceptives during breast-feeding 6 weeks postpartum. Professionals were more knowledgeable about benefits to infants than about maternal concerns. Results of this study suggest that professional breast-feeding education programs should address maternal concerns such as weight loss, contraception, and mastitis as well as benefits to the infant.

Breastfeeding Among Women in the Alabama WIC Program

Women who participated in the Alabama WIC Program during 1986-88 and ceased breastfeeding during the months of May to August duringthoseyearsbreastfed an average 5.6months. Slightly fewer than 15 percent of the women who breastfed continued for 12 months or longer; 45 percent continued for six months; 59 percent did so for 4 months; and 21 percent breastfed for one month or less. Breastfeeding duration was related positively and independently to increased maternal age and parity. Younger women were more likely than older women to stop breastfeeding due to perceived insufficient milk, in order to return to work or school, or to use oral contraceptives. Women who ceased breastfeeding at or after one year postpartum tended to be older.

Developing Valid and Reliable Online Survey Instruments Using Commercial Software Programs

The increased popularity and ease of creating online surveys may allow for professionals with little knowledge of appropriate study design and psychometrics to develop instruments with questionable methodological rigor. The present study provides one example of developing an online survey instrument using appropriate survey design. This article will provide health sciences librarians with a resource in the development of a valid and reliable survey instrument using SurveyMonkey.com. Recommendations for future research include surveying health sciences librarians and other professionals to gain a better understanding of the need for education on this topic.

Nursing, Food Service, and the Child With Diabetes

The safety and well-being of children while they are at school or day care is a major concern in our society. It is therefore important that the professionals who are entrusted with the care of young people possess the knowledge and skills necessary to provide a safe and caring environment for all children, including those with chronic disorders such as diabetes. Each day 35 children in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. To make their school experiences positive, it is imperative that school employees be aware of the potential challenges associated with diabetes and how to meet these challenges successfully. This article discusses the role of the school nurse in forming an interdisciplinary team to work with a child with diabetes. It addresses the school nurse’s role in diabetes education of food service personnel in the school. Confidentiality issues are also addressed.

DAIRY-PRODUCT INTAKE AND HIP FRACTURE AMONG OLDER WOMEN: ISSUES FOR HEALTH BEHAVIOR '

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between dairy-product intake and hip fracture among a national sample of women aged 50 years and older. Univariate analyses using SAS procedures showed dairy-product intake was significantly associated with hip fracture. Women who had suffered hip fracture reported higher dairy use than women who had not experienced these fractures, a finding that is dramatically inconsistent with the literature. This finding may reflect positive behavioral changes resulting from the hip fracture event. Further research must focus on changes in health behavior after fracture, which may assist in understanding the roles of specific theories of health behavior. Application of principles of health behavior could improve the effectiveness of preventive treatment programs for osteoporosis.