Breastfeeding ExpectationsNCT07901010
The Effect of a Virtual Reality Breastfeeding Experience on Breastfeeding Expectations and Avoidance
A study testing Simulation of Virtual Reality in people with Breastfeeding Expectations and Breastfeeding Avoidance, run by Ebru Ertas.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effect of a virtual reality breastfeeding experience on breastfeeding expectations during pregnancy and breastfeeding avoidance after childbirth. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 39 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Breastfeeding Expectations, Breastfeeding Avoidance
- What is being tested?
- Simulation of Virtual Reality
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2026to Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 39 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Women aged 18-39 years
- Primiparous women
- Women at 36 weeks of gestation
- Women who are literate
- Women who can understand and speak Turkish
Who cannot join
- Women with high-risk pregnancies
- Women with contraindications to breastfeeding
- Women with visual or hearing impairments
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of a Virtual Reality Breastfeeding Experience on Breastfeeding Expectations and Postpartum Breastfeeding Avoidance: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effect of a virtual reality breastfeeding experience on breastfeeding expectations during pregnancy and breastfeeding avoidance after childbirth. Pregnant women will be randomly assigned to a group that receives a virtual reality breastfeeding experience or a control group. Breastfeeding expectations will be assessed, and breastfeeding avoidance will be evaluated after childbirth. The study will investigate whether experiencing a breastfeeding scenario in a virtual environment can help women develop more positive expectations about breastfeeding and reduce breastfeeding avoidance after birth. The findings may contribute to the development of innovative educational approaches to support breastfeeding preparation during pregnancy.
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled trial will investigate whether a virtual reality (VR) breastfeeding experience during pregnancy affects breastfeeding expectations and breastfeeding avoidance after childbirth. Participants will be randomly assigned to a VR intervention group or a control group. Breastfeeding expectations will be assessed during pregnancy, and breastfeeding avoidance will be evaluated after childbirth. The findings may help determine whether VR can be a useful educational approach for preparing women for breastfeeding.
- Being tested
- Simulation of Virtual Reality
- Keywords
- Breastfeeding Expectations, Breastfeeding Avoidance, midwifery, virtual reality
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Simulation of Virtual RealityOther
Participants will receive usual care and two virtual reality breastfeeding simulation sessions at 36 and 37 weeks of gestation. The sessions will be conducted using a virtual reality headset in a quiet, comfortable environment, with participants seated in a comfortable chair. The intervention is designed to provide an immersive breastfeeding experience before childbirth.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| intervention group | Experimental | Participants will complete the Personal Information Form and Breastfeeding Expectations Scale at 36 weeks of gestation, receive two virtual reality breastfeeding simulation sessions at 36 and 37 weeks, and complete the Breastfeeding Expectations Scale again at 38 weeks of gestation and the Breastfeeding Avoidance Scale one month after childbirth. Receives: Other: Simulation of Virtual Reality |
| control group | No intervention | Participants will receive routine antenatal care, complete the Personal Information Form and Breastfeeding Expectations Scale at 36 and 38 weeks of gestation, and complete the Breastfeeding Avoidance Scale one month after childbirth. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Breastfeeding Expectations Score
Breastfeeding expectations will be assessed using the Breastfeeding Expectations Scale at 36 weeks of gestation (baseline) and 38 weeks of gestation (follow-up). The change in scale scores from baseline to follow-up will be compared between the virtual reality intervention group and the control group. The scale consists of 12 items and follows a 5-point Likert format. The minimum score that can be obtained on the scale is 12, and the maximum score is 60. Lower scores on the scale indicate higher positive expectations regarding the breastfeeding experience.
Measured: From 36 weeks to 38 weeks of gestation
Breastfeeding Avoidance Score at 1 Month Postpartum
Breastfeeding avoidance will be assessed using the Breastfeeding Avoidance Scale one month after childbirth. Scores will be compared between the virtual reality intervention group and the control group to evaluate the effect of the intervention on postpartum breastfeeding avoidance. The scale consists of 18 items and follows a 5-point Likert format. The minimum score that can be obtained on the scale is 18, and the maximum score is 90. As the score on the scale increases, the behavior of avoiding breastfeeding also increases.
Measured: 1 month after childbirth
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Oct 2026
- Study start1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Breastfeeding ExpectationsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ebru Ertas
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ebru Ertas, Kutahya Health Sciences University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07901010
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KHSU
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data collected during the study, including data relevant to the study outcomes, may be shared with qualified researchers upon reasonable request, subject to ethical approval, applicable data protection regulations, and approval by the responsible research team. The study protocol and statistical analysis plan may also be shared where appropriate.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of a Virtual Reality Breastfeeding Experience on Breastfeeding Expectations and Postpartum Breastfeeding Avoidance: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07901010
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KHSU
- Keywords
- Breastfeeding Expectations, Breastfeeding Avoidance, midwifery, virtual reality
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Ebru ErtasUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effect of a virtual reality breastfeeding experience on breastfeeding expectations during pregnancy and breastfeeding avoidance after childbirth. Pregnant women will be randomly assigned to a group that receives a virtual reality breastfeeding experience or a control group. Breastfeeding expectations will be assessed, and breastfeeding avoidance will be evaluated after childbirth. The study will investigate whether experiencing a breastfeeding scenario in a virtual environment can help women develop more positive expectations about breastfeeding and reduce breastfeeding avoidance after birth. The findings may contribute to the development of innovative educational approaches to support breastfeeding preparation during pregnancy.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial will investigate whether a virtual reality (VR) breastfeeding experience during pregnancy affects breastfeeding expectations and breastfeeding avoidance after childbirth. Participants will be randomly assigned to a VR intervention group or a control group. Breastfeeding expectations will be assessed during pregnancy, and breastfeeding avoidance will be evaluated after childbirth. The findings may help determine whether VR can be a useful educational approach for preparing women for breastfeeding.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| intervention group | Experimental | Other: Simulation of Virtual RealityParticipants will complete the Personal Information Form and Breastfeeding Expectations Scale at 36 weeks of gestation, receive two virtual reality breastfeeding simulation sessions at 36 and 37 weeks, and complete the Breastfeeding Expectations Scale again at 38 weeks of gestation and the Breastfeeding Avoidance Scale one month after childbirth. |
| control group | No intervention | –Participants will receive routine antenatal care, complete the Personal Information Form and Breastfeeding Expectations Scale at 36 and 38 weeks of gestation, and complete the Breastfeeding Avoidance Scale one month after childbirth. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 39 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Women aged 18-39 years
- Primiparous women
- Women at 36 weeks of gestation
- Women who are literate
- Women who can understand and speak Turkish
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Women with high-risk pregnancies
- Women with contraindications to breastfeeding
- Women with visual or hearing impairments
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Simulation of Virtual RealityParticipants will receive usual care and two virtual reality breastfeeding simulation sessions at 36 and 37 weeks of gestation. The sessions will be conducted using a virtual reality headset in a quiet, comfortable environment, with participants seated in a comfortable chair. The intervention is designed to provide an immersive breastfeeding experience before childbirth. | Other | intervention group |
Primary outcome
Change in Breastfeeding Expectations Score
Time frame: From 36 weeks to 38 weeks of gestation
Breastfeeding expectations will be assessed using the Breastfeeding Expectations Scale at 36 weeks of gestation (baseline) and 38 weeks of gestation (follow-up). The change in scale scores from baseline to follow-up will be compared between the virtual reality intervention group and the control group. The scale consists of 12 items and follows a 5-point Likert format. The minimum score that can be obtained on the scale is 12, and the maximum score is 60. Lower scores on the scale indicate higher positive expectations regarding the breastfeeding experience.
Breastfeeding Avoidance Score at 1 Month Postpartum
Time frame: 1 month after childbirth
Breastfeeding avoidance will be assessed using the Breastfeeding Avoidance Scale one month after childbirth. Scores will be compared between the virtual reality intervention group and the control group to evaluate the effect of the intervention on postpartum breastfeeding avoidance. The scale consists of 18 items and follows a 5-point Likert format. The minimum score that can be obtained on the scale is 18, and the maximum score is 90. As the score on the scale increases, the behavior of avoiding breastfeeding also increases.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data collected during the study, including data relevant to the study outcomes, may be shared with qualified researchers upon reasonable request, subject to ethical approval, applicable data protection regulations, and approval by the responsible research team. The study protocol and statistical analysis plan may also be shared where appropriate.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Simulation of Virtual Reality in people with Breastfeeding Expectations and Breastfeeding Avoidance, run by Ebru Ertas.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Ebru ERTAŞ, PhD (+905543704579, ebru.ertas@ksbu.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Breastfeeding Expectations Score (time frame: From 36 weeks to 38 weeks of gestation). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Nov 2026.