Information Available Online That Answers Common Questions About Breast Pumping: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Information Science

Background:

• Breast milk pumping is common, increasing the need for reliable guidelines.
• Mothers frequently seek online information for breast pumping queries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the accuracy, readability, and credibility of online information regarding breast pumping.
• To identify gaps in current breast pumping guidelines available online.

Main Methods:

• Conducted Google searches using 10 common mother's questions about pumping.
• Screened the first three pages of search results for eligibility.
• Evaluated eligible web pages for accuracy, readability, and source credibility.

Main Results:

• 241 web pages were analyzed; most contained accurate, readable, and credible information.
• Searches for quantifiable answers yielded significantly more accurate results (p=0.024).
• Inquiries about milk supply adequacy resulted in a disproportionately high number of inaccurate hits.

Conclusions:

• Credible breast pumping information is accessible online, but inaccuracies exist, particularly concerning milk supply.
• Gaps in breast pumping guidelines necessitate further research.
• There is a need for individualized breast pumping guidance.