Abstract
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In the short period of time that ABM has been producing protocols, the numbers are impressive. We currently have 29 active protocols. The number of translations has grown significantly over the past few years. So far the languages and the corresponding number of protocols translated include English (29), Chinese (17), Croatian (17), Korean (24), Japanese (7), Spanish (18), Italian (3), German (9), and Polish (1). This represents the hard work and significant time commitment of many people, mostly ABM members.
Authors, writers, translators, reviewers, and ABM Protocol Committee members should be pleased with the fruits of their work. Protocols are unique pieces of work that are cited frequently in other publications, lectures, and used by hospitals and lactation professionals to support and create breastfeeding-related policies and procedures in their institutions.
Thank you to the many current and past members of the ABM Protocol Committee and Translation Subcommittee for your hard work. Authors, writers, reviewers, and translators have logged countless hours to produce a final protocol. Your protocol committee continues to be one of the most active of the ABM committees. Their main priority is to maintain and update all of the current protocols. Protocols have to be reviewed, updated, or revised every 5 years and require considerable work to update the current evidence. Changes or new evidence in an area of breastfeeding could prompt an earlier revision of a protocol.
New protocols are always welcome. Protocol ideas can be developed on a variety of topics relevant to breastfeeding practice and support, ranging from clinical guidelines to policy recommendations. The process for clinical protocol development is available on the ABM website and often requires several months of research, development of an annotated bibliography, peer review, review by the protocol committee, and final approval by the ABM Board. Subsequently new protocols and updates are published in Breastfeeding Medicine, in print and online, and are all available on the ABM website.
As previously noted, many protocols have been translated into several languages. This process requires expertise in medical terminology in two languages to make an accurate translation. The process of back translation by yet another reviewer is done to assure accuracy. ABM is thankful to the many translators who have helped accomplish this enormous task.
Our ABM Strategic Plan calls for streamlining the production, translation, and maintenance of protocols, while preserving the quality. ABM also has a goal of creating at least one new protocol per year in addition to maintaining the current list of protocols and their needed revisions. Members, new or seasoned, who have clinical protocol ideas, research expertise, or would like to be involved in writing or committee membership should contact the ABM.
To accomplish all of this, we need your help. We need member involvement. We need ideas, authors, writers, reviewers, and translators. To date, ABM has received some grant funding to support production of protocols. Expanding the production of the protocols will also require enhanced management and financial support. Although ABM Protocols are “free” to members, financial support, grants, and donations will be needed to expand the work already outlined. To direct future development of ABM Protocols, we will need to develop a knowledge of use patterns, user satisfaction, and user interests.
To recognize the current members of your Protocol Committee, and sorry if I missed anyone, I have listed them hereunder:
Michal Young, MD, FABM, Chairperson
Larry Noble, MD, FABM, Translations Chairperson
Melissa Bartick, MD, FABM
Wendy Brodribb, MD, FABM
Maya Bunik, MD, MSPH, FABM
Sarah Calhoun, MD
Sarah Dodd, MD
Megan Elliott-Rudder, MD
Cadey Harrel, MD
Susan Lappin, MD
Ilse Larson, MD
Ruth A. Lawrence, MD, FABM
Kathleen A. Marinelli, MD, FABM
Nicole Marshall, MD
Katrina Mitchell, MD
Casey Rosen-Carole, MD, MPH, MSEd
Susan Rothenberg, MD
Tomoko Seo, MD, FABM
Sarah Reece-Stremtan, MD
Adora Wonodi, MD
ABM Clinical Protocols have become a true success story for the ABM and will continue to be with your help and support.