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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Mar-Apr;45(2):143-54.
doi: 10.1016/j.jogn.2015.12.001. Epub 2016 Jan 11.

The Effect of Interactive Web-Based Monitoring on Breastfeeding Exclusivity, Intensity, and Duration in Healthy, Term Infants After Hospital Discharge

Azza H Ahmed, Ali M Roumani, Kinga Szucs, Lingsong Zhang, Demetra King
Randomized Controlled Trial

The Effect of Interactive Web-Based Monitoring on Breastfeeding Exclusivity, Intensity, and Duration in Healthy, Term Infants After Hospital Discharge

Azza H Ahmed et al. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2016 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether a Web-based interactive breastfeeding monitoring system increased breastfeeding duration, exclusivity, and intensity as primary outcomes and decreased symptoms of postpartum depression as a secondary outcome.

Design: Two-arm, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Three hospitals in the Midwestern United States.

Participants: One hundred forty one (141) mother-newborn dyads were recruited before discharge.

Methods: Postpartum women were randomly assigned to the control or intervention groups. Women in the control group (n = 57) followed the standard hospital protocol, whereas women in the intervention group (n = 49) were given access to an online interactive breastfeeding monitoring system and were prompted to record breastfeeding and infant output data for 30 days. A follow-up online survey was sent to both groups at 1, 2, and 3 months to assess breastfeeding outcomes and postpartum depression.

Results: For mothers and infants, there were no significant differences in demographics between groups. No significant differences in breastfeeding outcomes were found between groups at discharge (p = .707). A significant difference in breastfeeding outcomes was found between groups at 1, 2, and 3 months (p = .027, p < .001, and p = .002, respectively). Members of the intervention group had greater exclusive breastfeeding rates at 1, 2, and 3 months. By the end of the third month, 84% of the intervention group was breastfeeding compared with 66% of the control group. Postpartum depression symptom scores decreased for both groups at 1, 2, and 3 months (control group: 4.9 ± 3.9, 4.3 ± 4.9, and 3.2 ± 3.9, respectively; intervention group: 4.7 ± 4.5, 3.0 ± 3.4, and 2.8 ± 3.6, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between groups at 1, 2, and 3 months (p = .389, .170, and .920, respectively) for depression.

Conclusion: The Web-based interactive breastfeeding monitoring system may be a promising intervention to improve breastfeeding duration, exclusivity, and intensity.

Keywords: Web-based interactive monitoring; breastfeeding; breastfeeding support; e-health.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Subject Recruitment, Dropout, and Completion of the Study
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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