Abstract
Background
The admission of the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after birth disrupts the breastfeeding process, increases the mother's stress and anxiety levels and negatively affects her motivation and self-efficacy to breastfeed. There is a need for evidence-based non-pharmacological approaches to improve the breastfeeding process for mothers with infants in NICU and to ensure that the infant benefits optimally from breast milk.
Aim
This study was conducted to determine the effect of motivational interviewing-supported breastfeeding education on the breastfeeding motivation and self-efficacy of mothers whose full-term infants were hospitalized in the NICU.
Methods
The study was conducted in a public hospital in Istanbul between 20 September 2024 and 15 February 2025 using a randomised controlled design with parallel groups. The sample consisted of 48 mother-infant pairs who met the inclusion criteria. The control group (n=24) received routine practice. The intervention group (n=24) received motivational interviewing (4 sessions) and breastfeeding education (1 session). Data was collected using the Introductory Information Form, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BESES) and Breastfeeding Motivation Scale (BMS). The trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier:XXX).
Results
At discharge, 2 weeks after discharge and 1 month after discharge, the mean BESES scores of the intervention group were higher than the mean scores of the control group (p<0.05). At discharge, 2 weeks after discharge and 1 month after discharge, the mean scores of the intervention group on the subscales of the Integrated Regulation, Intrinsic Motivation and Identified Regulation, Extrinsic Regulation-Additional Benefits subdimensions were higher than the mean scores of the control group (p<0.05).
Conclusion
It was found that motivational interviewing supported breastfeeding education increased breastfeeding motivation and self-efficacy among mothers whose full-term infants were hospitalized in the NICU. It was also found to increase the rate of mothers feeding their infants with breast milk. It is recommended that breastfeeding education based on motivational interviewing be provided to mothers whose full-term infants are hospitalized in the NICU.