Literature Review
Breastfeeding is a crucial process that allows infants to receive the nutrients needed in the future for developing immunity to specific diseases, as well as maintaining good health, in general. However, numerous mothers prefer to use a formula instead of breastfeeding, thus abstaining from it (Shepherd, Walbey, & Lovell, 2017). Studies show that the specified choice makes infants especially susceptible to health-related risks, including the risk of developing serious conditions in the future (Fewtrell, 2019).
Therefore, strategies for promoting exclusive breastfeeding t the mothers of newborn children have to be created. Due to the opportunity to cement the standard routine for exclusive breastfeeding, roleplaying and scripting should be used as the main strategies in educating mothers of infants and promoting exclusive breastfeeding to women.
Studies show that roleplaying has a vast significance for encouraging patients to shape their behaviors. For instance, Toback and Clark (2017) mention that roleplaying allows patients to accept the behaviors that they would not have considered otherwise, thus helping them to adjust to the new roles and perform new tasks with due responsibility. In turn, scripting helps to cement the specified roles and responsibilities, as the study by Britton et al. (2019) assures.
With the help of scripting, mothers of infants will be able to memorize the necessary routine actions that they will have to perform in order to get used to exclusive breastfeeding and avoid resorting to using the formula. Specifically, aaa mentions the importance of scripting in teaching patients specific behavior patterns and introducing them to healthy attitudes. However, there is currently a gap in the evaluation of the impact of scripting and role-playing on breastfeeding. Nevertheless, research indicates that the application of scripting leads to better learning and an increase in patients’ self-esteem and sense of certainty (Shepherd et al., 2017). Therefore, the adoption of the proposed techniques can lead to improvements in the rates of exclusive breastfeeding.
Evidence-Based Practice
The project in question is based on studying the outcomes of role-playing and scripting as interventions on the levels of exclusive breastfeeding in the mothers of infants. It is believed that the evidence-based practice (EBP) performed in a local healthcare facility will prove the importance of role-playing and scripting on the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in young mothers of newborn children. The EBP process will consist of introducing mothers to the concept of exclusive breastfeeding with the help of roleplaying and scripting, as well as the following assessment of changes in the rates of exclusive breastfeeding among the target population.
The EBP process is expected to prove that the application of role-playing and scripting affects pregnant women’s ability to memorize instructions and follow them accurately. The EBP process will take place in a local healthcare facility for pregnant women. Specifically, the practice will involve the education of pregnant women by using role-playing and scripting. The application of scripting will imply learning the key scenarios and actions that women will have to take in order to provide their children with exclusive breastfeeding. Namely, correct breastfeeding practices will be learned in the process, while typical errors will be avoided.
In turn, role-playing will help women to develop the learned behaviors that will allow them to apply breastfeeding as a habitual action. As a result, breastfeeding is expected to become an important part of women’s routine, allowing them to develop the skills and knowledge needed to sustain the quality of nutrition for their children at a decent level.
References
Britton, B., Baker, A. L., Wolfenden, L., Wratten, C., Bauer, J., Beck, A. K.,… Oldmeadow, C. (2019). Eating as treatment (EAT): A stepped-wedge, randomized controlled trial of a health behavior change intervention provided by dietitians to improve nutrition in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy (TROG 12.03). International Journal of Radiation Oncology* Biology* Physics, 103(2), 353-362.
Fewtrell, M. S. (2019). Promoting and protecting breast-feeding: The importance of good quality data. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 68(3), pp. 296-297.
Shepherd, L., Walbey, C., & Lovell, B. (2017). The role of social-cognitive and emotional factors on exclusive breastfeeding duration. Journal of Human Lactation, 33(3), pp. 606-613.
Toback, M., & Clark, N. (2017). Strategies to improve self-management in heart failure patients. Contemporary Nurse, 53(1), 105-120. Web.