Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Can a Call Make a Difference? Measured Change in Women’s Breastfeeding Self-efficacy Across Call Interactions on a Telephone Helpline

  • Published:
Maternal and Child Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background Telephone helplines providing 24-h specialist-nurse contact present a source of immediate support for women encountering challenges with breastfeeding and may serve to prolong breastfeeding duration by building self-efficacy. To date there is little evidence on interaction effectiveness and still less on the relative effectiveness for women from different socio-economic backgrounds. Research Aim To establish the effect on maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy of calls made to a nurse-led parenting helpline. Methods From a corpus of calls made to the Australian Child Health Line (N = 723), those made by women presenting a breastfeeding concern as a prime issue (n = 60) were scored for breastfeeding self-efficacy at commencement and completion of recorded interactions. Analyses examined the significance and direction of change from beginning to end of calls and compared difference in change across calls originating from high and low social advantage locations. Results A significant increase in self-efficacy was found, but with low effect size. There was considerable variation among calls; 53% showed improvement, 25% showed no change and 22% showed reduction in breastfeeding self-efficacy. While most calls were made by women from socially advantaged locations, change was more positive for the small number of callers from disadvantaged locations. Conclusion The potential of nurse-led reactive telephone support is evident, but dependent on qualities of the interaction. For women living in disadvantaged locations telephone support may be of particular significance given the greater social barriers to breastfeeding they are likely to encounter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Artieta-Pinedo, I., Paz-Pascual, C., Grandes, G., Bacigalupe, A., Payo, J., & Montoya, I. (2013). Antenatal education and breastfeeding in a cohort of primiparas. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(7), 1607–1617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2011). Census of population and housing: Socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA). Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/2033.0.55.001.

  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2011). 2010 Australian National Infant Feeding Survey: Indicator results. Canberra: AIHW.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Antecedent determinants. In A. Bandura (Ed.), Social learning theory (pp. 59–93). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1986). Self-efficacy. In A. Bandura (Ed.), Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory (pp. 390–449). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, J., Cooklin, A. R., & Smith, J. (2009). Which mothers wean their babies prematurely from full breastfeeding? An Australian cohort study. Acta Pædiatrica, 98(8), 1274–1277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butler, C. W., Danby, S., Emmison, M., & Thorpe, K. (2009). Managing medical advice seeking in calls to child health line. Sociology of Health & Illness, 31(6), 817–834.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danby, S. J., Thorpe, K. J., Emission, M., Ferguson, R., Butler, C. W., & Daveson, N. (2009). Calling for help: A responsive evaluation of child healthy line. Brisbane: Queensland University of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, C. L., & Faux, S. (1999). Development and psychometric testing of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale. Research in Nursing & Health, 22(5), 399–409.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, C. L., & Kingston, D. (2008). A systematic review of telephone support for women during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 37, 301–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, C. L. E. (2006). Identifying predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy in the immediate postpartum period. Research in Nursing & Health, 29(4), 256–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feijen-de Jong, E. I., Jansen, D. E., Baarveld, F., van der Schans, C. P., Schellevis, F. G., & Reijneveld, S. A. (2012). Determinants of late and/or inadequate use of prenatal healthcare in high-income countries: A systematic review. The European Journal of Public Health, 22(6), 904–913.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fox, R., McMullen, S., & Newburn, M. (2015). UK women’s experiences of breastfeeding and additional breastfeeding support: A qualitative study of Baby Cafe services. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 15, 147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henshaw, E. J., Fried, R., Siskind, E., Newhouse, L., & Cooper, M. (2015). Breastfeeding self-efficacy, mood, and breastfeeding outcomes among primiparous women. Journal of Human Lactation, 31(3), 511–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoddinott, P., Craig, L., Maclennan, G., Boyers, D., & Vale, L. (2012). The FEeding Support Team (FEST) randomised, controlled feasibility trial of proactive and reactive telephone support for breastfeeding women living in disadvantaged areas. British Medical Journal Open, 2, 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horta, B. L., & Victora, C. G. (2013). Long term effects of breastfeeding: A systematic review. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/breastfeeding_long_term_effects/en/index.html.

  • Jamtvedt, G., Young, J., Kristoffersen, D., O’Brien, M., & Oxman, A. (2007). Audit and feedback: Effects on professional practice and health care outcomes (review). The Cochrane Library, 2(2), 1–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, A. M., Kirk, R., Rooks, A. J., & Muzik, M. (2016). Enhancing breastfeeding through healthcare support: Results from a focus group study of African American mothers. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 20(Suppl 1), 92–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keppel, G., & Wickens, T. D. (2004). The linear model and its assumptions. In G. Keppel & T. D. Wickens (Eds.), Design and analysis: A researchers handbook (4th ed., pp. 132–158). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koo, T. K., & Li, M. Y. (2016). A guideline of selecting and reporting intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability research. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 15(2), 155–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacVicar, S., Kirkpatrick, P., Humphrey, T., & Forbes-McKay, K. E. (2015). Supporting breastfeeding establishment among socially disadvantaged women: A meta-synthesis. Birth, 42(4), 290–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGraw, K. O., & Wong, S. P. (1996). Forming inferences about some intraclass correlation coefficients. Psychological Methods, 1, 30–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meedya, S., Fahy, K., & Kable, A. (2010). Factors that positively influence breastfeeding duration to 6 months: A literature review. Women and Birth, 23(4), 135–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meglio, G. D., McDermott, M. P., & Klein, J. D. (2010). A randomized controlled trial of telephone peer support’s influence on breastfeeding duration in adolescent mothers. Breastfeeding Medicine, 5, 41–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen, S. M., Marshall, A., & Warren, M. D. (2017). Statewide breastfeeding hotline use among Tennessee WIC participants. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 49(7), S192–S196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oakley, L. L., Renfrew, M. J., Kurinczuk, J. J., & Quigley, M. A. (2013). Factors associated with breastfeeding in England: An analysis by primary care trust. BMJ Open, 3(6), e002765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, K. F. (2011). First-time breastfeeding mothers: Perceptions and lived experiences with breastfeeding. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 26(3), 17–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renfrew, M. J., McCormick, F. M., Wade, A., Quinn, B., & Dowswell, T. (2012). Support for healthy breastfeeding mothers with healthy term babies. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 5, 1–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rozga, M. R., Kerver, J. M., & Olson, B. H. (2015). Self-reported reasons for breastfeeding cessation among low-income women enrolled in a peer counseling breastfeeding support program. Journal of Human Lactation, 31(1), 129–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmied, V., Beake, S., Sheehan, A., McCourt, C., & Dykes, F. (2011). Women’s perceptions and experiences of breastfeeding support: A metasynthesis. Birth, 38(1), 49–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheehan, A., Schmied, V., & Barclay, L. (2009). Women’s experiences of infant feeding support in the first 6 weeks post-birth. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 5(2), 138–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E. V., Wakely, M. B., De Kruif, R. E., & Swartz, C. W. (2003). Optimizing rating scales for self-efficacy and other research. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 63(3), 369–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S. (2010). Helping parents cope with crying babies: Decision-making and interaction at NHS Direct. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(2), 381–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tahir, N. M., & Al-Sadat, N. (2013). Does telephone lactation counselling improve breastfeeding practices?: A randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 50(1), 16–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, G., & Crossland, N. (2013). Callers’ attitudes and experiences of UK breastfeeding helpline support. International Breastfeeding Journal, 8(1), 1–15.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, G., Crossland, N., Dykes, F., & Sutton, C. J. (2012). UK breastfeeding helpline support: An investigation of influences upon satisfaction. BMC: Pregnancy and Childbirth, 12, 150–165.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trivedi, D. (2018). Cochrane review summary: Support for healthy breastfeeding mothers with healthy term babies. Primary Health Care Research & Development, 1–2.

  • Victora, C. G., Bahl, R., Barros, A. J. D., França, G. V. A., Horton, S., Krasevec, J.,.. . Rollins, N. C. (2016). Breastfeeding in the 21st century: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. The Lancet, 387(10017), 475–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2003). Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/gs_infant_feeding_text_eng.pdf.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the nurses and parent callers who consented to participate in this study. Data collection was supported by a grant from the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Brisbane and Perpetual Trustees.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Karen Thorpe

  2. Centre for Children’s Health Research, Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Elena Jansen

  3. School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Cerdiwen Cromack

  4. Centre for Children’s Health Research, Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Danielle Gallegos

Authors
  1. Karen Thorpe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elena Jansen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cerdiwen Cromack
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Danielle Gallegos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karen Thorpe.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thorpe, K., Jansen, E., Cromack, C. et al. Can a Call Make a Difference? Measured Change in Women’s Breastfeeding Self-efficacy Across Call Interactions on a Telephone Helpline. Matern Child Health J 22, 1761–1770 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2573-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2573-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation