41 - Establishing a Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic at a Large Academic Children’s Hospital: A Needs Assessment

Saturday, April 29, 2023

3:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

Poster Number: 41
Publication Number: 41.202

Heidi Szugye, Cleveland Clinic Children's, Cleveland Heights, OH, United States; Suet Kam Lam, Cleveland Clinic Children's, Lakewood, OH, United States

Presenting Author(s)

Heidi Szugye, DO, IBCLC, FAAP (she/her/hers)

Medical Director of Breastfeeding Medicine, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Cleveland Clinic Children's
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, United States

Background: As breastfeeding rates increase and the importance and complexities of breastfeeding are further understood, demand for Breastfeeding Medicine specialists is growing. However, more research is needed documenting the specific needs to justify and shape a Breastfeeding Medicine clinic at a large academic center.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the educational and clinical needs and gaps of patients and providers to justify and create a replicable Breastfeeding Medicine clinic model at a large academic children’s hospital.

Design/Methods:
An anonymous RedCap survey was sent electronically to all Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Women’s Health Institute, Primary Care Pediatrics, Breast Center, and lactation providers and completed between 5/18/22 and 5/27/22 before the Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic opened.

Results: 121 providers responded with a 30% response rate overall. Respondent's professional backgrounds and years in practice were varied with a mean number of breastfeeding dyads encountered of 12 per week. Notable results included the most common patient breastfeeding support needs of 1) latch issues (86%), 2) nipple pain (73%), 3) undersupply (64%), 4) frenotomy assessment (44%), and 5) infant medical diagnoses (37%). The most common provider resources or support needs included 1) access to lactation consultants (66%), 2) patient education (58%), 3) access to a breastfeeding physician (56%), 4) physician education (43%), and 5) home visits (40%). The most common patient misconceptions encountered are 1) that it’s easy or natural (30%), 2) perceived low milk supply (13%), and 3) milk comes in and baby latches right away. The most common provider misconceptions were 1) that it should be easy or natural (8%), 2) perceived low supply (6%), and 3) medication safety (4%).

Conclusion(s): Our survey highlighted a number of specific opportunities to provide both educational and clinical support for patients and providers when creating a Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic.