The Effect of Mixed Reality Technology-Based Breastfeeding Counseling on Breastfeeding Success and Self-Efficacy of Women

Breast-feeding; It is the basic step of newborn, maternal and community health. Breastfeeding counseling, which is planned to encourage, initiate and continue breastfeeding in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, is extremely important in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Breastfeeding counseling with mixed reality technology will contribute to the literature.

The research will be carried out between January 2023 and December 2024 in the hospitals in Mersin with a delivery room. The universe will consist of all pregnant women who come to the obstetrics clinics of the specified hospitals for follow-up purposes. G Power 3.1 program was used for sampling. By using the G Power 3.1 program in the sample calculation (30); According to the Cohen Guidelines (Cohen's d); effect size was 0.5, power was 0.80, and significance level was 0.05. It was calculated as 102 people, with at least 51 people in the intervention group and at least 51 people in the control group. The sample number was determined as 112 pregnant women to receive 10% (5 each) for the intervention and control groups in case the participants dropped out of the study. In the study, "Block Randomization" method, which is one of the fixed probability randomization methods, will be used in order to ensure homogeneity between the groups and to eliminate selection bias.

In the intervention group; Introductory Information Form, Antenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale will be applied as a pre-test to pregnant women in their 3rd trimester and breastfeeding counseling based on mixed reality technology will be given. The LATCH Breastfeeding Diagnosis and Evaluation Scale and Postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale will be filled in within 24 hours and on the 7th day after giving birth. The same steps will be performed for the pregnant women in the control group, and unlike the intervention group, counseling will be applied with Power Point technique instead of mixed reality technology. Statistical analyzes will be made using a package program called SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics 24). In descriptive statistical analysis, mean, standard deviation, median, frequency, percentile, minimum and maximum values will be calculated. Descriptive, parametric and nonparametric statistical analysis methods will be used in the analysis of the data.

Various studies have been conducted in Turkey using different methods on breastfeeding counseling, but no study has been found in which breastfeeding counseling was provided with mixed reality technology. Therefore, a randomized controlled experimental type study will be conducted to evaluate the effect of mixed reality technology-based breastfeeding counseling on breastfeeding success and self-efficacy of women.

No study has been found in Turkey that provides breastfeeding counseling with mixed reality technology. It is predicted that counseling provided with the use of mixed reality technology will increase breastfeeding self-efficacy and success. It is envisaged that the results obtained will be presented in scientific environments and used as an evidence-based practice in increasing both the rate and success of breastfeeding after being published as an article. The results of a randomized controlled trial with high evidential value are expected to be available for use by both healthcare professionals and mothers. By helping the results of the study to realize the recommendations of the World Health Organization regarding breastfeeding; It is thought that it will benefit newborn, maternal and community health, thus making a significant contribution to the promotion, initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding, which is the first step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.In order to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding counseling based on mixed reality technology on breastfeeding success and self-efficacy of women, it will be conducted in a randomized controlled experimental type.

Methods The research will be carried out between January 2023 and December 2024 in the hospitals in Mersin with a delivery room.

The population of the study will be composed of pregnant women who applied to the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinics of hospitals with delivery rooms in Mersin between January 2023 and December 2024 for follow-up. G Power 3.1 program was used for sampling. By using the G Power 3.1 program in the sample calculation (30); According to the Cohen Guidelines (Cohen's d); effect size was 0.5, power was 0.80, and significance level was 0.05. It was calculated as a total of 102 people, with at least 51 for the intervention group (the group given breastfeeding counseling based on mixed reality technology) and at least 51 for the control group (the group where breastfeeding counseling was given with the standard education method). The sample number of the study group was determined as 112 pregnant women, 10% for the intervention group and 10% (5 people) for the control group, against the possibility of the participants dropping out of the study.

Data Collection Intervention Group Data Collection in the Prenatal Period 38-40 students who agreed to participate in our study and met the inclusion criteria. Introductory Information Form, Antenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale will be applied as a pre-test after obtaining informed consent from the pregnant women who are between the 6th and 7th weeks of age. The data will be collected by face-to-face interview technique and is expected to take about 15 minutes.

After the pre-test is applied, pregnant women will be given breastfeeding counseling based on mixed reality technology. Breastfeeding counseling; It is an educational program that includes breast milk and its properties, benefits of breast milk for mother and baby, breast anatomy, breastfeeding positions, expressing and storing breast milk. This counseling will be applied to pregnant women with mixed reality technology and will take approximately 20 minutes.

Data Collection in the Postpartum Period The LATCH Breastfeeding Diagnosis and Evaluation Scale will be filled by the researcher by observation within the first 24 hours after the pregnant women in the intervention group participating in our study give birth. Postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale will be applied as a post-test. Data collection will take approximately 15 minutes.

The LATCH Breastfeeding Diagnosis and Evaluation Scale will be filled by the researcher through observation on the 7th day after giving birth to the pregnant women in the intervention group participating in our study. Postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale will be applied as a posttest repetition. The interview will be concluded by completing the Postpartum Period Status and Satisfaction Evaluation Form. Data collection will take approximately 15 minutes.

Control Group Data Collection in the Prenatal Period Introductory Information Form, Antenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale will be applied as a pre-test after obtaining informed consent from the pregnant women in the third trimester who agreed to participate in our study and met the inclusion criteria. The data will be collected by face-to-face interview technique and is expected to take about 15 minutes.

After the pre-test is applied, standard breastfeeding counseling will be given to pregnant women with Power Point technique. It is an educational program that includes breastfeeding counseling, breast milk and its properties, the benefits of breast milk for mother and baby, breast anatomy, breastfeeding positions, expressing and storing breast milk. This counseling will be applied to pregnant women with Power Point technique and it will take about 20 minutes.

Data Collection in the Postpartum Period The LATCH Breastfeeding Diagnosis and Evaluation Scale will be filled by the researcher through observation within the first 24 hours after the pregnant women in the control group participating in our study give birth. Postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale will be applied as a post-test. Data collection will take approximately 15 minutes.

The LATCH Breastfeeding Diagnosis and Evaluation Scale will be filled by the researcher through observation on the 7th day after giving birth to the pregnant women in the intervention group participating in our study. Postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale will be applied as a posttest repetition. The interview will be concluded by completing the Postpartum Period Status and Satisfaction Evaluation Form. Data collection will take approximately 15 minutes.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* 38-40. Continuing pregnancy between gestational weeks,
* Primigravida,
* Those who have not received a planned breastfeeding training before,
* Pregnant women who agree to participate in the study will be included.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Having a risky pregnancy,
* Postpartum mother and/or baby have a health condition that prevents breastfeeding,
* Having multiple pregnancy,
* The mother and/or baby hospitalized for the first 7 days,
* Can't speak or understand Turkish,
* Women with intellectual disability and serious mental disorders will be excluded from the study.