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Health Promotion Journal of Australia Health Promotion Journal of Australia Society
Journal of the Australian Health Promotion Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Feed Safe: a multidisciplinary partnership approach results in a successful mobile application for breastfeeding mothers

Becky White A E , James White A , Roslyn Giglia B C and Susan Tawia D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Reach Health Promotion Innovations, PO Box 58, Wanneroo, WA 6946, Australia.

B Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, WA 6008, Australia.

C Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.

D Australian Breastfeeding Association, 1818–1822 Malvern Road, Malvern East, Vic. 3145, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: becky@rhpi.com.au

Health Promotion Journal of Australia 27(2) 111-117 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE15114
Submitted: 14 September 2015  Accepted: 4 April 2016   Published: 30 May 2016

Journal Compilation © Australian Health Promotion Association 2016

Abstract

Issue addressed: Mobile applications are increasingly being used in health promotion initiatives. Although there is evidence that developing these mobile health applications in multidisciplinary teams is good practice, there is a gap in the literature with respect to evaluation of the process of this partnership model and how best to disseminate the application into the community. The aim of this paper is twofold, to describe the partnership model in which the Feed Safe application was developed and to investigate what worked in terms of dissemination.

Methods: The process of working in partnership was measured using the VicHealth partnership analysis tool for health promotion. The dissemination strategy and reach of the application was measured using both automated analytics data and estimates of community-initiated promotion.

Results: The combined average score from the partnership analysis tool was 138 out of a possible 175. A multipronged dissemination strategy led to good uptake of the application among Australian women.

Conclusions: Multidisciplinary partnership models are important in the development of health promotion mobile applications. Recognising and utilising the skills of each partner organisation can help expand the reach of mobile health applications into the Australian population and aid in good uptake of health promotion resources.

So what?: Developing mobile applications in multidisciplinary partnerships is good practice and can lead to wide community uptake of the health promotion resource.

Key words: dissemination strategies, evaluation methods, information and communication technology, mhealth.


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