Concordance as a Person-Centered Measure of Breastfeeding Success: From Adequacy to Agency

Abstract

Health benefits associated with breastfeeding are supported by extensive research. Measurements of breastfeeding success in clinical and research settings have focused on maximizing adherence to population-level health recommendations for infant feeding (compliance). Concordance, a new adjunct measure of breastfeeding success, uses a comparison between the parent's intended feeding method and the actual feeding method to better assess whether the person's goals for infant feeding have been met. This measure uses a modified patient-centered outcomes research question to evaluate success in a person-centered framework and is congruent with patient-centered individualized care and shared decision making. Use of concordance as an adjunct success metric in evaluation of interventions and clinical programs will provide an opportunity to approach breastfeeding promotion holistically and incorporate the parent's desired outcome(s) as central to that success.