The Use of Videoconferencing for Lactation Consultation: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Acceptance among Independent Samples of Mothers and Infant Fathers/Maternal Partners in the United States

Background: Breastfeeding is a health behavior encouraged by Healthy People 2020. However, an important barrier to breastfeeding is limited access to specialized support if needed. The use of videoconferencing technology to increase access to the relatively small number of professionals trained to manage breastfeeding issues may ultimately assist with increasing breastfeeding duration and exclusivity rates. Understanding the perceived acceptability of videoconferencing technology among potential users is a critical first step in developing effective interventions.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the relationship between acceptance of remote lactation consultation using videoconferencing and a) acceptance subscales, b) maternal learning style preferences and c) maternal demographic factors and, 2) to explore the relationship between infant fathers’/maternal partners’ demographic factors and their perception of their wives’/partners’ acceptance remote lactation consultation using videoconferencing.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study design using online survey methodology. Participants included 101 mothers and 80 unrelated infant fathers/maternal partners. Samples were recruited between July 2014 and March 2015, from specific and discrete randomized states. Mothers were English-speaking, ≥ 18 years of age, with an infant of ≤ 4 months of age who had been breast-fed at least once.

Results: Mothers’ survey - Factors related to maternal acceptance included ‘perceived ease of use’ (r=0.680, p2[square]=0.616, p

Conclusions: In these samples, mothers’ acceptance was slightly positive and infant fathers/maternal partners perceived their wives’/partners’ acceptance to be neutral. In both samples, those perceiving videoconferencing to be useful for lactation consultation showed greater acceptance of its use.