Validity and Reliability of Breastfeeding Advice and Coping with Breastfeeding Instruments

Purpose: To pilot two instruments: Breastfeeding Advice and Coping with Breastfeeding in NICU settings.

Design: Psychometric testing of the Breastfeeding Advice and Coping with Breastfeeding instruments.

Sample: Mothers (N = 47) with singleton or twin preterm (±36 + 6 gestation weeks) infant(s) (N = 55) at discharge collected from seven NICUs in Finland.

Main outcome variables: The validity and reliability of two instruments: Breastfeeding Advice measuring the quality of breastfeeding counseling and Coping with Breastfeeding measuring the mothers' experienced ability to cope with breastfeeding issues. Results: Infants' mean gestation age was 32.5 weeks at birth. The items of the instruments were supported by previous studies, demonstrating content validity. There was a signifi cant correlation ( r .72, p .001) between Breastfeeding Advice and Coping with Breastfeeding, indicating constructor validity. Evidence for predictive validity was not found. Good reliability for internal consistency of the Breastfeeding Advice (Cronbach's .86) and Coping with Breastfeeding (Cronbach's .85) was found.