Providing breastfeeding support in the community: The perceived self-efficacy of Plunket Nurses

The aim of this research was to describe the factors that Plunket Nurses identified as contributing to their level of perceived self-efficacy when providing breastfeeding support to mothers in a community setting. The need to improve breastfeeding rates and outcomes in New Zealand has been identified as a current issue and is being addressed within national initiatives. Primary health care providers, including Plunket Nurses, have been identified as current and potential contributors to improvements within these initiatives. The preparation of health providers to be successful in providing breastfeeding support is important and was identified within the literature reviewed. The availability of New Zealand based research undertaken in primary health care and community settings was found to be minimal. The research design considered most appropriate for this study was that of a qualitative descriptive analysis with a purposive sample. Nine Plunket Nurses who currently provide breastfeeding support in the community provided an account of a breastfeeding support situation from which they reflected on the factors that contributed to their perceived self-efficacy in this role. A thematic analysis was used to generate seven themes. The themes were presented using excerpts from the narrative of the participants. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1995) was indicated within the literature review as a useful conceptual framework for use in research looking at the education, knowledge, experience, skills and attitudes of health providers involved in the provision of breastfeeding support. In this study, findings related to the factors that contribute to the level of perceived self-efficacy of the Plunket Nurse participants, were used to inform conclusions and recommendations for processes that contribute to confidence and ability. These include orientation, education, and ongoing professional development programmes that benefit professional practice and contribute to improving breastfeeding rates and outcomes in New Zealand within current initiatives.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Nursing

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

Eastern Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Armstrong, Tracey

• New Zealand
• Plunket nurses
• breastfeeding
• support
• self-efficacy
• perceptions
• reflective narratives

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6598

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10652/6598