The Effect of Podcast Breastfeeding Training on Breastfeeding Outcomes of Mothers of Preterm Infants Hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A Randomized Controlled Study

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of breastfeeding education provided via podcast to mothers of preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit on the mothers' breastfeeding success, awareness, motivation, self-efficacy, and perception of insufficient milk supply. The sample for this study, conducted using a pre-test-post-test randomized controlled experimental design, consisted of patients admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Ordu University Education and Research Hospital at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Ordu University Education and Research Hospital, who were informed about the purpose of the current study, provided written and verbal consent to participate in the study, and were preterm infants between 34 and 37 weeks of gestation, along with their mothers who met the inclusion criteria. The "Demographic/Obstetric and Neonatal Characteristics Form," "Breastfeeding Motivation Scale," "Breastfeeding Awareness Scale," "Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale," and "Perceived Insufficient Milk Scale" were used to collect data. The sample will consist of mothers of preterm infants between 34 and 37 weeks of gestation who meet the inclusion criteria. The sample size for the study was determined to be 26 mothers, calculated using G-Power analysis with a 95% confidence level (1-α), 80% power (1-β), an effect size of 0.80, and an independent samples t-test. Due to the possibility of data loss, the number of participants was increased based on the results of the power analysis, and it was planned to include 56 mothers who met the selection criteria in the study sample. A podcast series on breastfeeding education will be shared with the mothers in the experimental group via a digital platform (WhatsApp). The content will cover: breastfeeding preterm infants, why breast milk is important, the composition of breast milk and its importance for preterm infants, and the benefits of breast milk for preterm infants, the breastfeeding process at YYBÜ, conditions for expressing and storing milk, challenges encountered during breastfeeding and their solutions, ways to increase milk production, seeking support for breastfeeding at YYBÜ, the role of breast milk in the nutrition of preterm infants, and recommendations for breastfeeding. Daily follow-up calls will be used to track whether the mothers listened to the podcasts. Mothers in the control group received only the standard breastfeeding education provided under the hospital protocol. No podcasts or other additional support were provided. The scales administered after the education provided via the podcast and standard care were reapplied to mothers in both groups. This will allow for a comparative evaluation of changes between the experimental and control groups.