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Date: | Tue, 25 Nov 1997 12:22:26 -0500 |
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ONe thing that I think is important to impart to pharmacy students
physicians and others is that it is impossible to make them experts
in a one hour lecture. They need to know that they won't know everything
and they should refer their clients/patients/customers to people who
help breastfeeding mothers for aliving.
When I was doing my research interviews for my dissertation last
year on breastfeedin g and the workplace, several women reported that
they had rented pumps from pharmacies and then couldn't figure out how to sue
them (sorry I meant use them, just a typo, really) and they were
very discouraged until they discovered or were
referred to a lactation consultant who rented pumps and also provided the
education and support necessary to use it. If pharmacists cannot spend
the time to learn to provide education and support for a pump then
perhaps they should think about referring new mothers to LCs who rent
pumps rather than offering the service themselves.
I realize that this note may sound angry to some of you. It is not
meant to be angry, it's just that I think that LCs have expertise
that tohers do not and, just as it would be irresponsible of an LC a
to prescirbe or dispense medicine without the appropriate training
it is also irresponsible for pharmacists and physicians to dispense
breastfeeding advice and help on the basis of a one hour lecture on
the subject.
Hope this is helpful
Naomi Bar-Yam PhD
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