Smartphone Application for Breastfeeding Education in Medical Students

Efficacy of a Smartphone App for a Breastmilk Feeding Course Among Sixth Year Medical Students

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of two educational interventions to enhance breastfeeding knowledge among senior medical students. One intervention consisted of a traditional face-to-face teaching lecture and the other consisted of the use of a smartphone application containing information about breastfeeding.

A quasi-experimental study was performed. Students were allocated to two groups; the first group underwent a 6-hour face-to-face breastfeeding course which was divided in four 1.5-hour sessions during a time span of two weeks. The second intervention consisted of downloading a digital smartphone application designed by the research team to teach proper breastfeeding concepts which participants freely navigated during the same time span of two weeks. Before and after each intervention, students answered a general breastfeeding knowledge test consisting of twenty multiple choice answers with a score range of 0 to 20. Statistical comparisons between pre- and post-test scores were performed in each group and mean change in scores was compared between them to establish which method was the most efficient. Moreover, amount of time spent on the application was descriptively measured.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Senior adult medical students of any gender who at the time were enrolled on the Pediatrics biannual course during the July 2018 th -July 2019 th academic period.
• Provide verbal informed consent
• At least 18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• Students who did not possess an electronic device (smartphone or tablet) or decided not to participate in the study.
• Rate of non-attendance to the general pediatric course greater than 50%