Discussion Post: Capstone Change Project Evaluation Plan
Currently Healthy Beginnings is calling all mothers at the one-week mark after delivering. This is to see how they are doing with breastfeeding and if they are having challenges, they are scheduled for an in-clinic visit. After being seen in the clinic they are called at the one-week mark again and the process repeats until the mother can successfully breastfeed without challenges. Some mothers will come in twice a week, up to a month before they feel comfortable. If they are not having issues, they are just told to call the clinic if they feel they need help. Mothers who state they will be bottle feeding are taken off the call list. The goal is to increase adherence to breastfeeding for at least the first six months of life.
First, since education will be done to increase nurses understanding of the importance of breastfeeding and how to portray this information to their patients as well as help their patient's latch, this new knowledge must be evaluated. Summative assessment can be used to evaluate learning, knowledge gained and proficiently at the end of an instructional course (Harappa, 2021). This can help determine the effectiveness of the evidence-based practice education provided to staff because it allows for measurement and determining the success, efficacy and cost implications of my evidence-based project at my organization.
Secondly, If the change project is put in place, another way to evaluate its effectiveness would be to follow up on these mothers. Mothers can be called monthly to see how they are doing with breastfeeding and asked if they are exclusively breastfeeding, supplementing or if they quit by using semi-structured interviews. Semi-structured interview fosters comprehensive discussion instead of interrogation which allows for a more comfortable environment. This can be used to evaluate results as well as refine the approach. If they are supplementing, they can be asked why and helped with other resources such as help with using a breast pump and providing their child with this breast milk instead of formula. If they have quit, they can be asked why and take note if this was due to choice or lack of support. If it was due to lack of support or resources, they adjustments need to be made to this change.
In order to evaluate an evidence-based practice project, it is important to be able to determine the effectiveness of your change. Discuss one way you will be able to evaluate whether your project made a difference in practice.
The response must include a reference list. One-inch margins, double-space, Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font and APA style of writing and citations.