Smartphone-Based Breastfeeding Counselling Study (Breastfeeding)

The Effect of Breastfeeding Counselling With Smartphone App on Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, Breastfeeding Duration and Problems

This randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding counselling delivered through a smartphone application on breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding duration, and breastfeeding-related problems among primiparous women in the postpartum period. A total of 60 women were allocated to either an intervention group receiving app-based counselling and motivational messages or a control group receiving routine postpartum care. Outcomes were assessed at multiple follow-up points up to six months postpartum using validated scales. The study investigated whether continuous mHealth-based support improves breastfeeding outcomes compared with standard care.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Breastfeeding; Postpartum Period; Smartphone Application; Breastfeeding Duration
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Breastfeeding counselling via smartphone application; Other: routine postpartum breastfeeding care

Detailed Description

Breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for both mothers and infants; however, low breastfeeding self-efficacy and insufficient professional support remain major barriers to sustained breastfeeding. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions offer accessible and continuous counselling opportunities, particularly during the early postpartum period when breastfeeding problems are most common. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone application-based breastfeeding counselling program in improving breastfeeding outcomes among primiparous women.

This randomized controlled trial was conducted at a Training and Research Hospital in Turkey between January 15, 2022, and March 1, 2022. A total of 100 primiparous women were initially randomized, and 60 participants completed the study. Women in the intervention group received access to a smartphone application that included evidence-based breastfeeding education videos, motivational messages, and an interactive "Ask Me" platform for continuous counselling. Motivational messages were sent daily during the first month and weekly from the second to the sixth month. The control group received routine postpartum care.

This study was registered retrospectively. Participant enrollment and data collection were completed before trial registration due to lack of awareness of the prospective registration requirement at the time of study initiation. The study was conducted with ethics committee approval and in accordance with institutional and ethical standards. The trial was registered to ensure transparency and public accessibility of the study protocol and results.

Breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding-related problems, and breastfeeding duration were assessed at multiple follow-up points up to six months postpartum using validated scales. The study aimed to determine whether continuous digital counselling improves maternal confidence, reduces breastfeeding problems, and increases breastfeeding continuation rates compared with standard care.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Izmir, Turkey (Türkiye), 35665
    • Bakırçay University Çiğli Training and Research Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women who agree to participate in the study,
• Aged 18 years or older,
• In the early postpartum period (first 24 hours),
• Able to speak and understand Turkish,
• Possessing a smartphone (ANDROID) and able to use it,
• Who gave birth between 36 and 40 weeks of gestation,

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who have had a breast infection during pregnancy,
• Women whose baby has an anomaly in the mouth region,
• Women who have communication difficulties,
• Women with a history of breast cancer,
• Women who have given birth multiple times,
• Women with multiple pregnancies,
• Women with a premature baby,
• Women whose baby has neonatal jaundice have been excluded from the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Intervention group; Participants received breastfeeding counselling via smartphone application including video education, motivational messages, and remote support for six months.	Behavioral: Breastfeeding counselling via smartphone application; Video education,motivational messages and remote support for six months.
Other: Control Group; Participants received routine postpartum breastfeeding care.	Other: routine postpartum breastfeeding care; Standart postpartum breastfeedingcare provided by hospital staff.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) total score	The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) is a validated 14-item instrument that measures maternal confidence in breastfeeding. Total scores range from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicating greater breastfeeding self-efficacy.	Baseline (first postpartum day), 14 days postpartum, 6 weeks postpartum, 3 months postpartum, and 6 months postpartum

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Breastfeeding Problems Evaluation Scale total Score	The Breastfeeding Problems Evaluation Scale is used to assess the severity of difficulties experienced by mothers related to breastfeeding. Total scores range from 18 to 90, with higher scores indicating greater severity of breastfeeding problems.	Baseline (first postpartum day), 14 days postpartum, 6 weeks postpartum, 3 months postpartum, and 6 months postpartum
Breastfeeding duration (Breastfeeding ContinuationRate)	Breastfeeding duration was assessed as the proportion of mothers who continued any breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum. Continuation of breastfeeding was determined based on maternal self-report during follow-up. Higher proportions indicate longer breastfeeding duration	6monts postpartum

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ege University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 15, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 16, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 16, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: smartphone application; Breastfeeding; self-efficacy; breastfeeding problems; breastfeeding duration
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Feeding Behavior; Breast Feeding
• Other Study ID Numbers: BK-2022; Decision no: 20-8.1T/24 (Other Identifier: Ege University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee Approval)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: The individual participant data (de-identified) that underlie the results reported in this study will be made available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author. Data will be shared after publication, in accordance with institutional policies and ethical approval, and only for scientific research purposes.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Beginning 6 months after publication and ending 5 years after publication
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal can access the data. Proposals should be directed to the principal investigator. Data will be shared after approval and signing a data use agreement
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No