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 significant 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 alpha = .86) and Coping with Breastfeeding (Cronbach's alpha = .85) was found.