Development of the ‘‘My Breastfeeding Guide’’ mobile nursing application and its effect on the breastfeeding process, self-efficacy and attachment**,***

Abstract Background Evidence-based guidelines recommend that nurses play a key role in delivering breastfeeding education, advocating for breastfeeding-supportive policy reforms, and leading breastfeeding programs. The use of mobile applications to provide breastfeeding counselling has been explored in only a limited number of studies. Research aims. The study was planned to develop the ‘‘My Breastfeeding Guide’’ mobile nursing application based on Dennis’ BSET and Pender’s HPM and to determine its effects on postpartum breastfeeding process, breastfeeding self-efficacy and attachment. Methods The study has a randomized controlled experimental and longitudinal design. The study was designed with two groups as mobile nursing application group (intervention, n = 38) and standard care group (control, n = 37). Results It was found that there was no statistically significant difference was found between the mean The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form (BSES-SF) scores of the women in the intervention and control groups in all follow-ups ( p > 0.05), however, it was found that the mean BSES-SF score of the intervention group in the fourth follow-up was higher than other measurements. The intervention group's second and third follow-up The Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (IBFAT) score averages were found to be greater than the control group ( p < 0.05); the intervention group's third follow-up IBFAT score average was determined to be greater than other measurements. No statistically significant difference was found between the The Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI) score averages of women in the intervention and control groups ( p > 0.05). Conclusions The mobile application positively affected breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding success. It was determined that the mobile application had no effect on maternal attachment.