Validation of a self-efficacy survey for Italian midwifery students with regard to breastfeeding support

Background: The training of midwives is critical in order to acquire the professional skills necessary in the support of breastfeeding. The use of tools that demonstrate student competency in the field of midwifery is fundamental. Objectives: The aim for this study was to translate and apply a questionnaire to an Italian cohort of students – determining their self-efficacy and establishing the validity of the tool collectively. Design: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was conducted at a large university in northern Italy. Participants: Seventy-six female students from the Midwifery Degree Course. Methods: The questionnaire translated into Italian was administered to students participating in a Midwifery Degree Course. Rasch analysis was applied using ConQuest software, version 4. Results: Seventy-six questionnaires were collected. Fifty-six questionnaires have modal value 3 of the Likert response scale (It's easy for me to do it), 17 have a mode of 4 (It's very easy for me to do it), 3 of 2 (It's difficult for me to do it) and no questionnaire of 1 (It's very difficult for me to do it). A questionnaire identified the perception of self-efficacy of midwifery students in assisting breastfeeding mothers. Conclusion: The results of this research demonstrate that students of midwifery consider themselves competent when assisting breast feeding mothers.