Effectiveness of an Integrated Nursing Program on Breast Engorgement and Perceived Self-Efficacy on Breast Feeding

Abstract

This study was a quasi-experimental research design that employed the pretest-posttest control groups design with the aim of examining the effectiveness of an integrated nursing program on breast engorgement pain and perceived self-efficacy in breastfeeding. The participants group consisted of 60 post-partum mothers with normal delivery between January and June 2025, and the research instrumentation included the integrated nursing program that contained four activities, (1) family support, (2) health responsibility, (3) problem management, and (4) social support seeking. The tools used in the experiment included the Pain Evaluation Form, the Six-Point Breast Engorgement Scale, and the Perceived Self-Efficacy in Breastfeeding Scale. The research found that mothers in the group that received the integrated nursing program were aged 20 to 44 years, with a mean age of 30.40 years. Most had completed a bachelor’s degree (12 mothers or 40.00%), followed by vocational-level education (10 mothers or 33.33%). The majority had two children (17 mothers or 56.67%), had income in the range of 10,001-15,000 baht the most at 14 mothers or 46.67% and intended to exclusively breastfeed for six months the most at 12 mothers or 40.00%. The post-partum mothers who received the integrated nursing care program experienced less breast engorgement pain (p < 0.05) and had significantly higher perceived self-efficacy in breastfeeding (p < 0.05).