title: Remote lactation consultation: a qualitative study of maternal response to experience and recommendations for survey development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Use of videoconferencing technology for healthcare intervention and support is an area of tremendous potential, especially in regard to application in rural or underserved communities. Potential for cost-savings, time-savings, and increased access to care are the ultimate driving force behind use of this technology, for both providers and recipients of healthcare services. Recently, the Federal Government has initiated rulings to support the increased use of computer technology in underserved areas. Therefore, exploring novel applications of the technology of videoconferencing is timely. Remote lactation consultation may be one such novel application.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this pilot study was to describe the maternal experience of lactation consultation by means of videoconferencing, compared with standard face-to-face care, using grounded theory for model development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve mothers participated in both a videoconferencing and a face-to-face consultation during one visit to the study site. Using grounded theory methods, responses to an in-depth phone interview occurring 3 days post-consultation were analyzed for major themes and a theoretical model proposed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three major themes emerged including maternal characteristics and interaction with technology, accuracy and trust determines acceptability for consultation type and, conditional acceptance of remote consultation use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emergent themes were grounded in existing literature, and potential scales were identified to assist with development of a future tool to test the theoretical model. Responses to the videoconferencing experience were positive, but preferred use of the technology was situational.
authors.affiliation: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1920, USA.
authors.forename: Mona F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Habibi
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicklas
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: Sherri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hedberg
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magnuson
authors.forename: Katherine F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D035503:Sociobiology; D035502:Trust; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D049269:Videoconferencing