Association of Parental Use of Patient Portals with Breastfeeding Rates in Infants. Issue 3 (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ossai, Chionye R.; McDonnell, John; Behairy, Mohga; Schelzig, Colleen; Larkin, Lauren; Jones, Jessica; Liu, Wei; Das, Anirudha
• Is Part Of: Journal of consumer health on the Internet. Volume 25:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 261
• Page End: 274
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: Breastfeeding -- engagement -- infant -- patient -- portal; Health -- Computer network resources -- Periodicals; Internet -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Computer network resources -- Periodicals; Computer Communication Networks -- Periodicals; Consumer Participation -- Periodicals; Delivery of Health Care -- Periodicals; 025.063621
• DOI: 10.1080/15398285.2021.1943635
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-8285

Abstract

Abstract: Our objective was to determine the association of parental use of patient portals with infant breastfeeding rates at six months of life. We performed a retrospective cohort study of infants age six to seven months born at ≥35 weeks gestational age between January 2017 and December 2018. We compared breastfeeding rates between infants of portal users versus non-portal users. Each group was comprised of 384 mother-infant dyads. The percentage of dyads breastfeeding among portal users and non-portal users were 48.7% and 44.3%, respectively. Overall, no statistically significant association was found between portal use and breastfeeding at six months in either unadjusted (OR 1.20; 95%CI 0.90–1.60) or multivariable analysis (OR0.92; 95%CI 0.68–1.30). More mothers in the portal use group breastfed at six months, but the difference was not statistically significant. Future prospective studies should focus on improving patient engagement through patient portals to realize potential benefits in improving breastfeeding rates.