Interactive breastfeeding scale: proposition based on the middle-range theory of nursing

Abstract Objective: To propose a tool to evaluate the dynamic interaction between mother-child-environment in breastfeeding, guided by the Interactive Theory of Breastfeeding. Method: A methodological study that carried out a review of the literature to identify the types of scales available and listed the Pasquali's model and the five-point Likert scale as a guide for the construction process of the Interactive Breastfeeding Scale. Results: The scale consists of 58 items and the response options range from 1 to 5, where 1 means Never, 2 Rarely, 3 Sometimes, 4 Often, and 5 Always. The sum of the item scores ranges from 58 to 290, the higher the score, the greater the mother-child-environment interaction. Conclusion: The scale may direct clinical practice in the puerperium and puericulture, helping nurses and other professionals in the maternal-infant area to evaluate the factors that influence the dynamic of mother-child-environment interaction in breastfeeding.