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Table 3 Characteristics of participants who passed/failed the IBLCE exam (N = 92)

From: The IBLCE exam: candidate experience, motivation, study strategies used and predictors of success

 

Passed

Failed

χ2

p

 

n (%)

n (%)

  
 

N

53

39

 

0.18

Demographic characteristics

 Profession

Community nurse

19 (35.8)

11 (28.2)

0.60

0.44

Midwife

14 (26.4)

13 (33.3)

0.52

0.47

Neonatology nurse

13 (24.5)

9 (23.1)

0.03

0.87

Doctor

3 (5.7)

0

2.28

0.13

Other

4 (7.6)

6 (15.3)

0.73

0.40

 Highest qualification

University degree

14 (27.0)

9 (23.1)

1.13

0.57

College degree

31 (59.6)

27 (69.2)

High school degree

7 (13.5)

3 (7.7)

 Place of worka

Community health centre

21 (40.4)

13 (33.3)

7.57

0.18

Maternity hospital

18 (34.3)

13 (33.3)

Neonatology ward

3 (5.8)

3 (7.7)

Paediatric ward

0

3 (7.7)

Private practice

0

2 (5.1)

Other

10 (19.2)

5 (12.8)

 Time spent working with breastfeeding mothers (years)

>  20

24 (46.2)

11 (28.2)

5.43

0.14

11–20

17 (32.7)

12 (30.8)

5–10

9 (17.3)

11 (28.2)

<  5

2 (3.8)

5 (12.8)

 Duration last child breastfed (months)

>  12

27 (52.9)

18 (48.6)

0.51

0.97

>  6–12

13 (25.5)

10 (27.0)

3–6

6 (11.8)

6 (16.2)

<  3

2 (3.9)

1 (2.7)

Did not breastfeed

3 (5.9)

2 (5.4)

Breastfeeding education

 Was breastfeeding part of your formal education?

Yes

29 (55.8)

19 (48.7)

0.45

0.51

No

23 (44.2)

20 (51.3)

 If yes, no. of hours

<  10

22 (78.6)

7 (36.8)

 

<  0.01*

10–20

3 (10.7)

3 (15.8)

9.38

>  20

3 (10.7)

9 (47.4)

 

If yes, did it include bed-side learning?

Yes

7 (17.9)

12 (30.7)

5.18

0.03*

No

21 (53.8)

8 (20.5)

If yes, how many hours?

<  5

2 (3.8)

3 (7.7)

 

0.45

5–10

2 (3.8)

1 (2.6)

1.61

> 10

3 (5.7)

8 (20.5)

 

Which forms of informal breastfeeding education have you attended?

90 h IBLCE exam preparatory course

53 (100.0)

26 (66.7)

20.57

<  0.01*

Breastfeeding conferences/symposiums

42 (79.2)

11 (28.2)

23.97

<  0.01*

UNICEF/WHO 20-h course for maternity staff

28 (52.8)

15 (38.5)

1.86

0.17

Breastfeeding webinars

22 (41.5)

4 (10.3)

10.82

<  0.01*

20-h course for primary health care teams

19 (35.8)

6 (15.4)

4.76

0.03*

Exam preparation

 Motivation for sitting exam

To improve my knowledge in breastfeeding

48 (90.6)

25 (64.1)

9.60

<  0.01*

So I can work as an IBCLC

19 (35.8)

6 (15.4)

4.76

0.03*

To test my knowledge in breastfeeding

17 (32.0)

7 (17.9)

2.24

0.13

To obtain the prestigious IBCLC certificate

13 (24.5)

5 (12.8)

1.96

0.16

To prove that I can do it

9 (17.0)

3 (7.7)

1.71

0.19

I was obliged to by my employer

6 (11.3)

7 (17.9)

0.81

0.38

 Study strategies used

Reread handouts

47 (88.7)

25 (64.1)

7.89

<  0.01*

Underlined or highlighted while reading

41 (77.4)

22 (56.4)

4.56

0.03*

Tested myself with practice questions

39 (73.6)

18 (46.2)

7.71

<  0.01*

Made outlines

25 (47.2)

18 (46.2)

0.01

0.92

Studied with others

19 (35.8)

4 (10.3)

7.85

<  0.01*

Actively participated during breastfeeding course

16 (30.2)

2 (5.1)

8.99

0.01*

Re-copied my notes

8 (15.1)

5 (12.8)

0.09

0.75

Crammed the night before the test

7 (13.2)

1 (2.6)

3.02

0.07

 Materials useda

Course handouts

53 (100.0)

27 (69.2)

18.75

<  0.01*

Breastfeeding atlas

37 (69.8)

15 (38.5)

8.99

<  0.01*

Translated questions from Comprehensive Lactation Consultant Exam Review

35 (66.0)

15 (38.5)

6.89

<  0.01*

 There was enough literature in my mother tongue.

13 (48.1)

27 (50.9)

0.06

0.81

 I used study materials in English.

16 (59.3)

24 (48.0)

0.89

0.34

 Study pattern used

Study sessions spaced out over weeks/months

37 (72.5)

16 (59.3)

1.43

0.23

Most study done in the days before the exam

14 (27.5)

11 (40.9)

 Did you spend time observing mother-support groups or otherwise find time to listen to normal, healthy mothers?

Yes

30 (56.6)

15 (55.3)

0.01

0.92

No

23 (43.4)

12 (44.7)

Exam experience

Clarity of instructions provided by IBLCE regarding exam application process

n = 53

n = 26

  
 

Completely clear

44 (83.0)

16 (61.5)

4.41

0.11

Partially clear

8 (15.1)

9 (34.6)

Unclear

1 (1.9)

1 (3.8)

Clarity of instructions provided by IBLCE regarding exam procedure

n = 53

n = 27

  
 

Completely clear

38 (71.7)

10 (37.0)

10.26

<  0.01*

Partially clear

14 (26.4)

17 (63.0)

Unclear

1 (1.9)

0

Clarity of instructions provided by proctors during exam

n = 52

n = 27

  
 

Completely clear

47 (90.4)

22 (81.5)

2.51

0.29

Partially clear

4 (7.7)

5 (18.5)

Unclear

1 (1.9)

0

Clarity of photographs used during the exam

n = 52

n = 27

  
 

Completely clear

15 (28.3)

2 (7.4)

  
 

Partially clear

32 (60.4)

17 (63.0)

7.12

0.03*

 

Unclear

6 (11.3)

8 (29.6)

  

Was there sufficient time to solve all exam questions

n = 52

n = 27

  
 

Yes

48 (90.6)

23 (85.2)

0.52

0.47

 

No

5 (9.4)

4 (14.8)

  1. aMultiple answers allowed
  2. *Signficantly less than p = 0.05