Critical defining characteristics for nursing diagnosis about ineffective breastfeeding

Características determinantes cruciales para el diagnóstico de enfermería acerca de la lactancia ineficaz

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the Nursing diagnostic accuracy measures and to propose a model to use defining characteristics in order to judge the nursing diagnosis of ineffective breastfeeding.

Method:

Cross-sectional study with a sample of 73 binomials mom-child hospitalized in a maternity ward of an University Hospital, from July to August of 2014.

Results:

The diagnostic predominance rate was 58.9%. The characteristics that best meet the needs of logistic regression model were: discontinuance of breast sucking; infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly; infant's crying one hour after breastfeeding and inappropriate milk supply perceived.

Conclusion:

Breastfeeding process is dynamic; diagnostic judgement may suffer some changes according to the time data are collected; the defining characteristics are the best predictors if associated with models and rules of use.

Descriptors:
Breastfeeding; Nursing Diagnostic; Weaning; Classification; Nursing Processes

RESUMEN

Objetivo:

Investigar las medidas de exactitud diagnóstica de enfermería y proponer un modelo para el uso de características determinantes en el juicio del diagnóstico de enfermería de lactancia ineficaz.

Método:

Estudio transversal, con muestra de 73 binomios madre-hijo hospitalizados en la Maternidad de un Hospital Universitario en el período de julio a agosto de 2014.

Resultados:

La prevalencia del diagnóstico fue del 58.9%. Las características que mejor atendieron al modelo de regresión logística fueron: discontinuidad de la succión de la mama; incapacidad del lactante para agarrar la región aréola-mamilar correctamente; la ocurrencia de llanto del lactante a la primera hora después de la lactancia y el suministro de leche inadecuada percibido.

Conclusión:

El proceso de lactancia es dinámico; el juicio diagnóstico puede sufrir modificaciones según el tiempo en que se recoja el dato; las características determinantes son mejores predictores si se asocian con modelos y reglas de uso.

Descriptores:
Lactancia Materna; Diagnóstico de Enfermería; Desmame; Clasificación; Procesos de Enfermería

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Investigar as medidas de acurácia diagnóstica de enfermagem e propor um modelo para uso de características definidoras no julgamento do diagnóstico de enfermagem de amamentação ineficaz.

Método:

Estudo transversal, com amostra de 73 binômios mãe-filho internados na Maternidade de um Hospital Universitário no período de julho a agosto de 2014.

Resultados:

A prevalência do diagnóstico foi de 58,9%. As características que melhor atenderam ao modelo de regressão logística foram: descontinuidade da sucção da mama; incapacidade do lactente de apreender a região aréolo-mamilar corretamente; ocorrência de choro do lactente na primeira hora após a amamentação e suprimento de leite inadequado percebido.

Conclusão:

O processo de amamentação é dinâmico; o julgamento diagnóstico pode sofrer modificações conforme o tempo em que o dado é coletado; as características definidoras são melhores preditoras se associadas com modelos e regras de utilização.

Descritores:
Aleitamento Materno; Diagnóstico de Enfermagem; Desmame; Classificação; Processos de Enfermagem

INTRODUCTION

Breastfeeding is a phenomenon of high relevance for women and children's health, having different possibilities of definitions. From a conceptual point of view, it can be understood as a biopsychosocial process of dynamic relationship between a woman and a child, which is initiated at a specific interval after birth, with different levels of efficacy in terms of provision and breastmilk receiving during each feeding session⁽¹⁾.

In Brazil, the Ministry of Health, dealing with the nutrition of the child in a publication addressed to primary care, recognizes that breastfeeding is much more than nurturing and highlights the role of the health professional to increase breastfeeding rates in Brazil. Thus, it is imperative that health professionals be able to advise on techniques and interventions for problems related to breastfeeding⁽²⁾.

In the context of health actions, nurses are professionals who are commonly engaged in advising and monitoring of breastfeeding, which requires that their clinical judgment and judgment capacity be continually improved. For clinical judgment to be appropriate, evidence is needed for a construct and a professional diagnoses that represent a conclusion about a phenomenon that is being observed and that drives the professional action. The nursing diagnosis is a method of reasoning, evaluation and judgment, which requires a cognitive process and intellectual skills, as well as practical experience and scientific knowledge. It is based on the presence of clinical evidences / inferences that can be observed, and on the analysis of factors related to the observed phenomenon, which may be occurring with the client, the family or the community^(3-5).

Among the nursing diagnosis classification systems, the International NANDA (NANDA-I)⁽⁶⁾'s taxonomy stands out, which is one of the most applied and used worldwide in the process of reasoning and clinical judgment about health problems or vital processes. Notwithstanding the value's recognition of nursing diagnosis as an instrument for reasoning and judgment, there is still a dimension of experience or response that is the object of this cognitive process, the diagnostic concept itself.

NANDA-I⁽⁶⁾ classifies three nursing diagnoses related to breastfeeding: ineffective breastfeeding, discontinued breastfeeding, and disposition for increased breastfeeding. The present study investigates the nursing diagnosis of ineffective breastfeeding, being defined as a "difficulty to offer milk to an infant or young child directly from the breasts, which may undermine the nutritional status of the infant or child". To support the establishment of nursing diagnoses, such as ineffective breastfeeding, NANDA-I presents defining characteristics, that is, "observable indicators or inferences that group together as manifestations of a diagnosis that focus on problem, on health promotion or syndrome"⁽⁶⁾.

The objective of the present study is to investigate the diagnostic accuracy measures and to propose a model for the use of defining characteristics in the judgment of the nursing diagnosis about ineffective breastfeeding.

METHOD

Ethical aspects

The study met the ethical recommendations and approved by the Ethics and Research Committee, on 06.25.2014.

Study's design, place and period of time

This cross-sectional study was carried out with given birth and infants hospitalized in the maternity ward of a public tertiary hospital in Vitória, Espírito Santo state, in the southeastern of Brazil, from July to August of 2014. The institution provides a wide range of health care assistance to the population of the state of Espírito Santo and cities of the state of Bahia and Minas Gerais, both in high complexity needs and in primary and secondary health needs. The maternity has 20 beds and adopts the system of joint accommodation for the mother to look after her infant 24 hours a day.

Sample and inclusion and exclusion criteria

The sample was obtained through convenience and was composed of 73 binomials, after evaluation of the following exclusion criteria: given birth who had a personal or family records of psychiatric illness; who could not breastfeed because of infectious disease; who were illicit drug users or did not live in the large city of Vitória, ES.

Data collection and organization

For binomial evaluation, we used a data collection instrument of authors, containing: defining characteristics of ineffective breastfeeding⁽⁶⁾; clinical and obstetrical sociodemographic data derived from nursing research and protocols and institutional manuals. The variables were organized into five sections of the instrument: 1) maternal characterization data; 2) clinical evaluation of breasts; 3) breastfeeding evaluation; 4) characterization data of the infant; 5) binomial attitudes and/or behaviors during breastfeeding. The operational definitions for the defining characteristics were available to those who would apply the instrument.

The data were collected through interviews, medical records, physical examination and clinical observation of the binomial during the feeding within 48 (forty-eight) hours after birth. Two subsequent evaluations occurred after seven days, and then, thirty. In the present study, data from the first evaluation performed within 48 hours after birth were used.

In order to reduce the benchmarking bias, the three evaluators were: a researcher with clinical experience in the area and two nursing students in the final quarter of the course, all trained in the area. These three evaluators were trained in a 10-hour course on semiology and semi-technical breastfeeding, nursing diagnosis of ineffective breastfeeding and evaluation criteria, with operational definitions for the defining characteristics, and detailed conceptions and instructions to use the instrument. The performance of the evaluators in the data collection was evaluated by another researcher with greater clinical experience and expertise in performing a pilot test with ten mother / baby binomials, and the general agreement of the evidence reached was greater than 85% being considered valid.

For the diagnostic decision about whether or not the diagnosis of ineffective breastfeeding's presence, the data collected from the binomials, organized in a spreadsheet, were submitted to the judgment of two researchers with clinical experience and expertise in the area, being recommended for their decision to: (a) take into account the case data (binomials); (b) consider the diagnostic definition of NANDA-I for ineffective breastfeeding; and (c) consider the diagnosis only when there are at least three defining characteristics. The decision to consider at least three defining characteristics was based on the nature of the diagnosis and for which, in a pilot study, the high prevalence of some characteristics that tended to form patterns of association was verified. In addition, NANDA-I corroboration was considered that there are diagnoses requiring group of symptoms in order to obtain accuracy⁽⁶⁾.

Analysis of results and statistics

In the analysis of the data, the measures of accuracy of defining characteristics were: sensitivity, specificity, efficiency, odds ratio and positive and negative predictive values.

Accuracy measures were obtained by the Instat Graphpad® software and the Excel®-based DAG_STAT software. The confidence interval adopted was 95% and the statistical significance was verified by Fisher›s exact test. The defining characteristics with appropriate measures of accuracy were those that reached: Efficiency (EF) equal to or greater than 70% and Odds Ratio (OR*) greater than 1.0. Considering that some cell values were zero and reduced, we chose to use the Haldane estimator (OR*), increasing confidence in the results obtained.

Logistic regression was calculated by the MEDCALC® statistical software⁽⁷⁾. The regression represented the statistical method used, in order to analyze which model would be best to describe the relationship between the dichotomous dependent variable (presence or absence of the nursing diagnosis) and the set of independent variables (defining characteristics) that would act as predictors or explainers of ineffective breastfeeding.

For the defining characteristics included in the logistic regression model, the positive and negative predictive values were worked by an inclusion and discard rule of the diagnosis that seeks to synthesize these values also considering the prevalence⁽⁸⁾. For the use of the inclusion and exclusion rule, the following formulas and interpretations were proposed: the chances of having CD (DeCD) = PPV; chances of diagnosis not having CD (DenCD) = 1-NPV; inclusion index (Ii) = DeCD-Prevalence; exclusion index (Ei) = DenCD-Prevalence.

The decision will be given by considering a given defining characteristic is more useful to include a case such as probable diagnosis if Ii> Ei (inclusion value); because it considers that a given defining characteristic is more useful to include a case as without the diagnosis if Ii <Ei (exclusion value) or without a prominent inclusion or exclusion value when Ii = Ei.

In the discussion about the data, the characteristic's model was also worked on in its clinical reasonability to function systemically in order to explain the occurrence of ineffective breastfeeding during the first 48 hours of the infant's life.

RESULTS

In the sociodemographic profile, the majority (79.5%) of the given birth was 34 years of age, 63% had no partner and 71.2% had more than eight years of study. As for infants, 58.9% were female and 90.4% were full-term (born over 37 weeks of gestation).

Using the evaluation of nursing diagnosis of ineffective breastfeeding, it was verified that there was evidence for a prevalence of 58.9%. Table 1 presents the distribution frequency of defining characteristics in cases with and without this nursing diagnosis.

Table 1
Distribution frequency of defining characteristics related to the diagnosis of nursing of ineffective breastfeeding

Defining characteristics	Ineffective breastfeeding
	Yes		No		Total
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Absence of observable signs of oxytocin release
Yes	24	32.9	4	5.5	28	38.4
No	19	26.0	26	35.6	45	61.6
Discontinuance of breast sucking
Yes	23	31.5	2	2.7	25	34.2
No	20	27.4	28	38.4	48	65.8
Insufficient drainage of the breast when breastfeeding
Yes	5	6.8	0	0.0	5	6.8
No	38	52.1	30	41.1	68	93.2
Infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly
Yes	41	56.2	8	11.0	49	67.1
No	2	2.7	22	30.1	24	32.9
Occurrence of crying of the infant when it is put on the breast
Yes	13	17.8	0	0.0	13	17.8
No	30	41.1	30	41.1	60	82.2
Infant's crying one hour after breastfeeding
Yes	12	16.4	4	5.5	16	21.9
No	31	42.5	26	35.6	57	78.1
Infant's excitement one hour after breastfeeding
Yes	5	6.8	6	8.2	11	15.1
No	38	52.1	24	32.9	62	84.9
Infant's bending on the breast
Yes	6	8.2	0	0.0	6	8.2
No	37	50.7	30	41.1	67	91.8
Insufficient opportunity of sucking the breast
Yes	9	12.3	2	2.7	11	15.1
No	34	46.6	28	38.4	62	84.9
Resistance of the infant in seizing the nipple region with the mouth
Yes	14	19.2	0	0.0	14	19.2
No	29	39.7	30	41.1	59	80.8
Inappropriate milk supply perceived
Yes	32	43.8	4	5.5	36	49.3
No	11	15.1	26	35.6	37	50.7

As observed in Table 1, the infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly, absence of observable signs of oxytocin release, and discontinuance of breast sucking were present in most of the binomials investigated. Whereas, the lower frequencies were: discontinuance of breast sucking and insufficient drainage of the breast when breastfeeding. Table 2 presents the accuracy measures adopted in the present study, referring to the values calculated from the research in the 73 binomials.

Table 2
Accuracy measures of defining characteristics related to the diagnosis of nursing of ineffective breastfeeding

Defining characteristics	Diagnostic accuracy measures									pvalue
	SP	Low	High	ES	Low	High	EF	Low	High
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Absence of observable signs of oxytocin release	55.8	39.9	70.9	86.7	69.3	96.2	68.5	56.6	78.9	0.0002*
Discontinuance of breast sucking	53.5	37.7	68.8	93.3	77.9	99.2	69.9	58.0	80.1	<0.0001*
Insufficient drainage of the breast when breastfeeding	11.6	3.9	25.1	100.0	88.4	100.0	47.9	36.1	60.0	0.0736
Infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly	95.3	84.2	99.4	73.3	54.1	87.7	86.3	76.2	93.2	<0.0001*
Occurrence of crying of the infant when it is put on the breast	30.2	17.2	46.1	100.0	88.4	100.0	58.9	46.8	70.3	0.0005*
Infant's crying one hour after breastfeeding	27.9	15.3	43.7	86.7	69.3	96.2	52.1	40.0	63.9	0.1623
Infant's excitement one hour after breastfeeding	11.6	3.9	25.1	80.0	61.4	92.3	39.7	28.5	51.9	0.3422
Infant's bending on the breast	14.0	5.3	27.9	100.0	88.4	100.0	49.3	37.4	61.3	0.0393*
Insufficient opportunity of sucking the breast	20.9	10.0	36.0	93.3	77.9	99.2	50.7	38.7	62.6	0.1110
Resistance of the infant in seizing the nipple region with the mouth	32.6	19.1	48.5	100.0	88.4	100.0	60.3	48.1	71.5	0.0004*
Inappropriate milk supply perceived	74.4	58.8	86.5	86.7	69.3	96.2	79.5	68.4	88.0	<0.0001*
Absence of observable signs of oxytocin release	8.2	2.4	27.6	85.7	67.3	96.0	57.8	42.2	72.3	0.0002*
Discontinuance of breast sucking	16.1	3.4	76.2	92.0	74.0	99.0	58.3	43.2	72.4	<0.0001*
Insufficient drainage of the breast when breastfeeding	11.3	0.6	211.3	100.0	47.8	100.0	44.1	32.1	56.7	0.0736
Infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly	56.4	11.0	288.9	83.7	70.3	92.7	91.7	73.0	99.0	<0.0001*
Occurrence of crying of the infant when it is put on the breast	27.0	1.5	475.1	100.0	75.3	100.0	50.0	36.8	63.2	0.0005*
Infant's crying one hour after breastfeeding	2.5	0.7	8.7	75.0	47.6	92.7	45.6	32.4	59.3	0.1623
Infant's excitement one hour after breastfeeding	0.5	0.1	1.9	45.5	16.7	76.6	38.7	26.6	51.9	0.3422
Infant's bending on the breast	10.6	0.6	195.4	100.0	54.1	100.0	44.8	32.6	57.4	0.0393*
Insufficient opportunity of sucking the breast	3.7	0.7	18.6	81.8	48.2	97.7	45.2	32.5	58.3	0.1110
Resistance of the infant in seizing the nipple region with the mouth	30.0	1.7	526.2	100.0	76.8	100.0	50.8	37.5	64.1	0.0004*
Inappropriate milk supply perceived	18.9	5.4	66.4	88.9	73.9	96.9	70.3	53.0	84.1	<0.0001*

• Note: (SE) = sensitivity; (SP) = specificity; (EF) = test efficiency or accuracy; (OR *) = odds ratio with Haldane estimator for zero value cells; (PPV) = positive predictive value; (NPV) = Negative predictive value; (Low.) and (High.) = Lower and higher values at 95% CI;
• ^(*)
  significant value of p in the Fisher's exact test. In bold, defining characteristics with EF greater than or equal to 70%.

Efficacy (EF) or accuracy, were found to be the highest values for the characteristics: the infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly (EF = 86.3%) and inappropriate milk supply perceived (EF = 79.5%).

The positive predictive value (83.7%) and negative predictive value (91.7%) of the infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly form the best probability of occurrence's set of ineffective breastfeeding in the presence of this characteristic (PPV) and absence of ineffective breastfeeding when the characteristic is not found (NPV).

The Odds Ratio (OR) of the infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly indicates that, their presence increases the chance of ineffective breastfeeding by 56 times; the resistance of the infant in seizing the nipple region with the mouth does so in 30 times; the occurrence of crying of the infant when it is put on the breast occurs in 27 times; inappropriate milk supply perceived 18.9 times; discontinuance of breast sucking by 16.1 times; and the absence of observable signs of oxytocin release does so by 8.2-fold (only characteristics that had OR> 1.0 in the lower range).

Considering the complexity of the interpretation of the separate characteristics statistics, the logistic regression was applied to verify the most appropriate model of characteristics associated to the diagnosis of ineffective breastfeeding (Table 3).

Table 3
Logistic regression for the defining characteristics of ineffective breastfeeding

Defining characteristics	Coefficient	Standard error	Wald	Odds ratio	Limits (CI 95%)	p value
Discontinuance of breast sucking	5.28397	1.90360	7.7049	197.1502	4.7252 a 8225.7355	0.005
Infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly	5.12074	1.46784	12.1704	167.4591	9.4288 a 2974.1483	0.0005
Infant's crying one hour after breastfeeding	4.59100	1.85159	6.1479	98.5926	2.6166 a 3714.9224	0.0132
Inappropriate milk supply perceived	5.22807	1.61086	10.5334	186.4326	7.9311 a 4382.3896	0.0012
Constant	-7.1611
Chi-square	DF	Significance	R2 of Cox & Snell		R2 of Nagelkerke
78.313	4	p< 0.0001	0.6579		0.8868

• Note: Wald = Wald test; CI 95% = confidence interval

According to results contained in Table 3, among the eleven characteristics studied, four were considered significant by the Wald test (p <0.05), to estimate ineffective breastfeeding in stepwise logistic regression. The seven other characteristics were removed from the model because they did not reach significance value during the regression. In the model, the Odds Ratio values of the four defining characteristics - expressed in how many times the chance of ineffective breastfeeding occurs in cases where the characteristic was found - would be greater than in cases where they were not found, thus generating a hierarchy of chances: discontinuance of breast suction (197 times); inappropriate milk supply perceived (186 times); infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly (167 times); and infant's crying one hour after breastfeeding (99 times).

The chi-square value indicates the regression model of the four mentioned characteristics explains in 78.313% the occurrence of ineffective breastfeeding in the sample studied. The R2 values of Cox & Snell (0.6579) and Nagelkerke (0.8868) indicate the adequacy of the proposed model.

By applying the inclusion and exclusion rule using the values contained in Table 2 and the prevalence of 58.9%, the following inclusion indexes (Ii) and exclusion indexes (Ei) are obtained for the four defining characteristics of the model: : discontinuance of breast suction (Ii = 33.1 and Ei = 17.2); inappropriate milk supply perceived (Ii = 30.0 and Ei = 29.2); infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly (Ii = 24.8 and Ei = 50.6); and infant's crying one hour after breastfeeding (Ii = 16.1 and Ei = 4.5).

DISCUSSION

The findings confirm the presence of defining characteristics (CDs) related to NANDA-International's ineffective breastfeeding diagnosis.

The comparison between the prevalence of CDs found in this study and in other studies, needs to be done carefuly. From the four characteristics incorporated into the logistic regression model, it is possible to verify the prevalences were different from those found during the first postpartum day⁽⁴⁾ and in later appointments in the Family Health Strategy⁽⁵⁾. Such evidence is relevant for the contextualized interpretation of the data and the consequent application of the results of diagnostic research in the field of care and diagnostic accuracy.

Therefore, it is relevant to understand the role of temporal circumstance in the identification of a clinical indicator. In a study performed with binomials in joint housing, the inability to seize the aoreola-nipple region (previously termed the Infant's inability of seizing the areola-nipple region correctly) had a decreasing occurrence between the first and fourth days after delivery⁽⁴⁾. Thus, the influence of the moment at which the clinical indicator is evaluated would be adjusted, pointing to a probable temporal dynamics in the characterization of ineffective breastfeeding diagnosis. This article presents results related to the evaluation of the binomial performed within the first 48 hours after delivery and, as such, should have its contribution limited to this time interval.

It is also difficult to state the real explanatory reasons for the differences in the prevalence of the diagnosis of ineffective breastfeeding of 58.9% found in the study compared to 64% and 80.2% found in other studies^(4-5). Among the explanatory possibilities: issues inherent to the diagnosis (different operational definitions for the defining characteristics and different criteria for the diagnostic decision), questions inherent to the diagnosist (different levels of expertise in the area and diagnosis), issues inherent to the participants (different characteristics of the different programs, protocols and programs of professional action, different systems of social-family support). It is understood that all these aspects require rigor and caution to ensure only the comparison between clearly aligned studies.

Logistic regression demonstrated that four defining characteristics were better in a prediction model or explanation of the occurrence of ineffective breastfeeding in nursing evaluations within 48 hours postpartum. However, statistics can only measure aspects related to numbers, and it is up to researchers to judge their clinical reasonableness. Thus, the analysis of explanations and relations will be carried out in the interests of better sustaining the statistical model.

Discontinuance of breast suction is due to the fact that some infants can not adequately seize the areola or can not hold the grab. This event can happen because the baby is not well positioned, does not open his mouth enough, or may be exposed to the bottle and / or pacifier, or the child may not properly pick up the breast because they are very tense, engorged, or the nipples are inverted or flat^(2,9).

Regarding the second characteristic with higher Odds Ratio in the model, it is known that the negative stimuli of fear, pain, anger, anxiety, frustration or stress are able to inhibit the release of oxytocin, preventing the milk ejection reflex, decreasing the supply of milk to the baby⁽¹⁰⁾, thus justifying the inappropriate milk supply perceived.

Milk is withdrawn through the tongue, thanks to a rhythmic peristaltic movement of the tip of the tongue backwards, which gently compresses the nipple. Failure of this mechanism may result from the infant's inability to seize the nipple region with the mouth. As a consequence, there may be resistance of the infant in seizing the nipple region with the mouth. And among the factors that contribute to these two characteristics it is found the difficulty of nipple seizing due to prematurity, low weight, oral dysfunction or hypoglycemia that makes the child excessively sleepy^(11-12).

The fourth defining characteristic of the regression model refers to when there is the infant's crying one hour after breastfeeding. Crying, associated with hunger, is sustained by culture as a result of problems related to milk production/quality^(13-14). Studies show that child crying and hunger are determinants for complementary feeding for mothers before completing six months of exclusive breastfeeding^(15-16).

However, there are many reasons for crying, including from extra uterine adaptation to very tense environments. Infants generally calm down if they are cuddled or placed in the chest, which corroborates the need to feel protected and safe. Most of the time mothers become anxious, tense and frustrated with the child's crying, tending to convey these feelings to them, and as a consequence, causing more crying, if there is a vicious cycle⁽¹⁷⁾.

In the presence of a given defining characteristic, positive predictive value would indicate the chance of having the diagnosis; the greater the value of the difference of the PPV in relation to the prevalence (PPV-P), the more useful the CD for a rule of inclusion of the case in the diagnosis. In the absence of a given defining characteristic, the negative predictive value would indicate the chance of not being diagnosed. The higher the value of the NPV difference compared to the prevalence (NPV-P), the more useful the CD for a rule to exclude the case out of the diagnostic hypothesis (exclusion).

In the study, discontinuance oficial breast sucking items and infant's crying one hour after breastfeeding would be better criteria to consider the presence of ineffective breastfeeding when such characteristics were verified, than to consider their absence to rule out the diagnosis. This naturally converges to the high specificity values of the mentioned characteristics.

The inappropriate milk supply perceived would be a better criterion for inclusion than exclusion, however, the closest values of Ii (exclusion index) and Ei (exclusion index) place this defining characteristic as less useful for the application of the inclusion rule and exclusion than the previous ones. However, its clinical value continues to be valid by the application of other measures, whereas the inability of the infant to seize the nipple region with the mouth is an excellent criterion for the application of the exclusion rule. That is, a greater probability of effective breastfeeding is expected when the infant succeeds in seeing the nipple region correctly.

The accuracy measures and the regression model proposed in the study, relate characteristics that gain clinical value for the nursing evaluation. Thus, it would be important to advise or recommend the mother to observe the following questions: (1) if the child has a good positioning of the mouth during feeding, (2) if during the breastfeeding process the child maintains suction in the (3) if the mother considers that her milk has been sufficient and what reasons she attributes to the lack of sufficiency, and (4) if, after the feeding, she realizes that the child is calm and satiated .

It is worth emphasizing that breastfeeding can be understood as an interactive and dynamic process between mother-child and with complexities that can not be neglected by the nurse. Thus, as pointed out previously, children have multiple reasons to cry, and not all crying children would be experiencing a process of ineffective breastfeeding. In a more systemic perspective of reality, the deepening of the bond and understanding of the child's expressions by the mother could cause comfort responses that would lead to the minimization of crying or even the negative evaluation of the mother regarding the normal and expected crying of the babies⁽¹⁶⁾.

In the study, we defend the relevance of investigating the statistical values of the variables linked to the accuracy of a diagnosis as a whole, to propose statistical and clinical models of characteristics that best define the diagnosis and to communicate and discuss results through rules or syntheses that facilitate the clinical application by the service nurses.

Study limitations

As limitations, the authors acknowledge the need to develop new studies with a greater number of participants and the construction of a relationship with findings from other diagnostic studies. The limit of comparison with other studies - that did not investigate the defining characteristics within the first 48 hours of the infant's life - is also recognized.

Contributions for Nursing, health and public policy areas

It is estimated that the findings of this research can contribute to the correct and rapid inference of the diagnosis of "ineffective breastfeeding" in infants, since accuracy studies contribute to indicate the value of test of evaluation clinic evidences (defining characteristics). Indirectly, it tends to reduce nurses' time and energy expenditures for a detailed investigation of signs and symptoms that would have less diagnostic prediction power, thus, collaborating with the optimized realization of the nursing process.

In the broader field, the study aims to contribute to the planning of nursing actions in the joint accommodation of the puerperal and infants, as well as to partially reduce the gap in the nursing literature on nursing diagnoses related to breastfeeding.

CONCLUSION

The present study establishes an important step to present to the nurses potentialities in the use of the nursing diagnosis with a view to a better evaluation of the mother-child binomial in relation to breastfeeding and, consequently, to promote an organization of care through the individualization of the care in joint housing system.

In order to infer the diagnosis of ineffective breastfeeding, the following clinical indicators were relevant: discontinuance of breast suction; the infant's inability of seizing the nipple region correctly; infant's crying one hour after breastfeeding and inappropriate milk supply perceived.

Based on the findings, nurses are advised to use the standardized nursing language system to make specific and precise diagnoses for each mother-child binomial in order to address breastfeeding during binomial care, and to propose the necessary interventions and evaluate the results obtained in order to help achieve the goal of effective breastfeeding.

It is considered that some recommendations and considerations, derived from the results of the present research, are important:(1) it is important to understand that the breastfeeding process is dynamic and, as such, the evaluations and the diagnostic judgment can undergo modifications as a function of time in which the data is collected;(2) the defining characteristics usually do not dispose alone of predictive power or sufficient explanation so that the nurse can elaborate an accurate clinical judgment only with an indicator being expected that a greater number of characteristics are investigated and gathered for a more precise judgment on the occurrence or not of ineffective breastfeeding;(3) to experiment with the construction of models of clinical indicators (defining characteristics) and rules of use that are capable of better representing the relationships between them and the diagnosis to be characterized.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Mar-Apr 2018

History

• Received
  11 Nov 2016
• Accepted
  11 Apr 2017