Using a Cognitive Aid to Improve Confidence in Counseling Regarding Current Anesthesia-Related Breastfeeding Recommendations.

PURPOSE: Although most anesthetic drugs are classified as compatible with breastfeeding, literature shows that anesthesia providers routinely advise patients to discard milk when receiving all types of anesthesia. The purpose of this project was to determine if a multimodal educational module and cognitive aid improved student registered nurse anesthetists' knowledge and confidence to counsel lactating patients on current anesthesia-related recommendations.

DESIGN: This project used a pre-experimental one-group, pretest and post-test design.

METHODS: Preintervention and postintervention surveys measured knowledge and confidence to counsel lactating patients scheduled to receive anesthesia.

FINDINGS: Significant improvement in knowledge and confidence after the intervention were noted.

CONCLUSIONS: A multimodal educational session and cognitive aid improved student registered nurse anesthetists' knowledge about current anesthesia-related breastfeeding recommendations and their confidence in counseling these patients. Wider use of this educational module with the cognitive aid has the potential to positively impact breastfeeding patients and their children.