Evaluation of an intervention to increase clinician knowledge and confidence to support breastfeeding, kangaroo care and positive touch within neonatal units

Breastfeeding and kangaroo care rates in neonatal units across the United Kingdom vary despite evidence for the clinical benefits. Clinicians have reported a need for evidence-based training to support parents with these practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Small Wonders Change Programme (SWCP), an intervention that aims to increase clinician knowledge and confidence to support parents in neonatal units to undertake breastfeeding and kangaroo care. Two neonatal intensive care units participated and 47 clinicians completed the Neonatal Unit Assessment Tool (NUCAT) pre and post-intervention. 18 of these clinicians also participated in a semi-structured interview to further explore the impact of the intervention on clinician's practice. Both clinician knowledge (t(46) = 4.61, p ≤ 0.000) and confidence (t(46) = 4.82, p < 0.000) significantly increased following the intervention. Analysis of the interviews revealed that clinicians directly attributed subsequent individual and unit-wide change in practice to an increase in knowledge and confidence as a result of the intervention. This study suggests that a clinician focussed intervention can lead to positive changes in clinician confidence, knowledge and practice in supporting parents to undertake breastfeeding and kangaroo care in neonatal units.