To analyze the effectiveness of a quality improvement program for facilitating breastfeeding and improving clinical outcomes for very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).

VLBWI admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Shaoxing Women and Children's Hospital before the implementation of the quality improvement program from February 2016 to January 2017 were retrospectively selected as control group (n=84), while those admitted after the implementation from August 2017 to July 2018 were enrolled as intervention group (n=75). Primary outcomes included breastfeeding rates by biological mothers and duration of achieving full enteral feeding and the secondary outcomes included duration of peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICC) and parenteral nutrition, PICC associated infections, average body weight growth rates during hospitalization, preterm-associated complications and mortality between the two groups were compared. Two independent sample t test, rank-sum test and Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test were used as statistical methods.

Compared with the control group, the intervention group had significantly increased breastfeeding rate [82.7% (62/75) vs 36.9% (31/84), χ²=34.183, P<0.001] and a shorter time to achieve full enteral feeding [M(P₂₅-P₇₅): 13(10-16) vs 17(14-23) d, Z=-4.542, P<0.001]. Moreover, the PICC indwelling time and parenteral nutrition duration were both significantly shortened after the implementation of quality improvement program [M(P₂₅-P₇₅): 10(7-13) vs 14(11-20) d, 12(9-15) vs 16(13-22) d, Z=-4.902 and -4.677; both P<0.001], but no statistical differences were found in any other secondary outcomes.

The quality improvement program is a feasible and practical approach to effectively improve breastfeeding rates in VLBWI and shorten the time required to achieve full enteral feeding.

Breast feeding; Infant, very low birth weight; Quality improvement