Interactive Web-Based Breastfeeding Monitoring

Abstract

Background: Strategies that promote higher exclusive breastfeeding rate and duration are highly recommended. To date, no study has tested the feasibility of Web-based monitoring among breastfeeding mothers. Goals: To develop an interactive Web-based breastfeeding monitoring system (LACTOR) and examine its feasibility, usability, and acceptability among breastfeeding mothers. Methods: A prospective, descriptive, mixed-methods study was conducted. Mothers who met the study inclusion criteria were recruited from mother infant units in 2 Midwestern hospitals in the United States. Mothers were asked to enter their breastfeeding data daily through the system for 30 days and then submit an online exit survey. This survey consisted of a system usability scale and mothers’ perceptions form. Twenty-six mother/infant dyads completed the study. Results: The Feasibility of LACTOR was established by mothers’ compliance in entering their breastfeeding data. The mean was 8.87 (SD = 1.21) daily entries, and the range was 6-13 times per day. Usability scale total mean score was 3.35 (SD = 0.33; scale range 0-4). Ninety-two percent of the mothers thought that they did not need to learn many skills before they started to use LACTOR and did not need any technical support. Mothers reported that the monitoring was beneficial and gave them the chance to track their infants’ feeding patterns and detect any problems early. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility of LACTOR, and it was user-friendly and acceptable among mothers. Further studies to test its effect on breastfeeding outcomes are needed.