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Addressing decisional conflict about fertility preservation - helping young female cancer survivors' family planning decisions

Muller, Madleina, Urech, Corinne, Boivin, Jacky ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9498-1708, Ehrbar, Verena, Moffat, Rebecca, Dallenbach, Rosanna Zanetti, Rochlitz, Christoph and Tschudin, Sibil 2018. Addressing decisional conflict about fertility preservation - helping young female cancer survivors' family planning decisions. BMJ 44 , pp. 175-180. 10.1136/bmjsrh-2017-101820

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Abstract

Background: Health professionals are challenged by a growing number of young long term cancer survivors with their specific needs with regard to family planning. This study aimed at assessing decisional conflict (DC) in young female cancer patients regarding fertility preservation, identifying demographic, fertility and fertility preservation related factors, which may affect DC, and assessing the helpfulness of various decision-supports. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional web-based survey via an online questionnaire available in three languages with specific items concerning cancer, fertility, fertility preservation and the validated decisional conflict scale targeted at current or former female cancer patients aged 18 to 45 years, with cancer types or treatment potentially affecting reproductive function. Results: The 155 participating women showed considerable DC, especially with regard to missing information and support. DC was significantly lower in patients when the risk of infertility was discussed with a health professional, when they had undergone any procedure to preserve fertility and when they had a university education. A longer time interval since cancer diagnosis was associated with higher DC. The most helpful decision-support tools were specialized websites and leaflets. Conclusions: Young female cancer patients’ DC with regard to fertility preservation is very high. Information and support seem to be deficient. More information through standardized information tools might be an effective strategy to lower their DC at the time when treatment decisions need to be taken, and to improve their reproductive health after they have overcome cancer in the future.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
Psychology
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN: 0959-8138
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 6 November 2017
Date of Acceptance: 26 October 2017
Last Modified: 06 Nov 2023 22:47
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/106248

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