Improving Access of Prenatal Breastfeeding Education via Telehealth Class

Prenatal breastfeeding education is an evidence-based practice that increases the knowledge of mothers regarding breastfeeding and supports both the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. Access to prenatal breastfeeding education within the community helps prepare and influence expectant mothers' intentions to breastfeed. The use of telehealth for prenatal breastfeeding education and support has been shown to effectively improve breastfeeding exclusivity.
This project aims to enhance access to prenatal breastfeeding education by providing classes in both English and Spanish through innovative technology via telehealth. It was implemented using the plan-do-study-act (PDSA) method, incorporating a referral process for prenatal patients during their appointments to the telehealth classes documented in the electronic medical record (EMR). Attendance rates were measured against the number of patients scheduled for the classes.
The goal was successfully met for the Spanish class offerings during specific months, where the attendance rate for Spanish-speaking patients indicated a higher show rate compared to English-speaking patients in a community predominantly composed of Spanish speakers. The referral process for the telehealth classes is driven by nurses, and collaboration with nurses in the outpatient setting is essential for sustaining and increasing patient referrals.
Key learning outcomes include recognizing the importance of collaboration among nurses and healthcare providers to enhance and maintain referrals to the telehealth classes.