Couple satisfaction with overall sub-fertility management: a questionnaire based study

1. Couple satisfaction with overall sub-fertility management: a questionnaire based study Bapir M, Hoh J, Brown J & Al-Inizi S Department of Women Health, South Tyneside District Hospital Harton Lane, South Shields, United Kingdom Acknowledgment: The authors would like to thank the couples participated in this study and a special thanks to J. Brown the specialist sub-fertility nurse. Introduction Infertility is an upsetting and stressful experience for some women 1,2, therefore access to support group and psychological counselling would be beneficial at all stage of infertility treatment and investigation 3,4. Design Questionnaire based study. Objectives - To assess satisfaction of sub-fertile couples with the overall management of infertility. - To assess the couples expectation in the term of clinical care and emotional aspect of sub-fertility starting pre-assessment nurse led clinic to fifth fertility clinic appointment. Methods Anonymous questionnaires were handed to couples at the end of the first nurse specialist assessment clinic, first appointment clinic and at the 5th appointment fertility clinic at Women Health Unit at South Tyneside Hospital. Results Couples satisfaction with the explanation given to them regarding drug treatment and possible risks and side effects of treatment Majority of couples were not anxious at this clinic or worried about the expectations Pre-Assessment Nurse Led Clinic first and fifth fertility clinic visits Average of overall satisfaction with this nurse led pre-assessment visit in a scale of 1-10 is 9.67. Couples overall satisfaction with the 1st and 5th visits in a scale of 1-10 are 8.8 and 9.2 consecutively. 96.8% of couples were satisfied with the doctor’s explanation of the sub-fertility investigation results. 100% of couples were satisfied that the sub-fertility nurse answered all their concerns and questions. Also 100% of couples were satisfied with the way the information provided by the sub-fertility nurse. Couples satisfaction with the information and options discussed with them by the doctor at first and fifth clinic visits More than half of the couples were worried about their future fertility and that they may not have a successful treatment which may require referral for IVF 16% at first visit and 10.5% at fifth visit couples preferred to see an infertility psychological counsellor as part of the infertility service at this clinic 16.40% of couples felt anxious at this clinic and worried about the expectations. 45.2% at first visit and 73.68% at fifth visit couples felt that written information is needed to cover the information required for drug treatment in sub-fertility Conclusion Couples were satisfied with their care, especially as the service is a couple-centred approach. The results of the 1st and 5th follow up clinic questionnaires have indicated that the involvement of an infertility psychological counsellor could further improve the service. References 1- Freeman EW, Boxer AS, Rickels K, Tureck R, Mastroianni L. Psychological evaluation and support in a program of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 1985;43:48–53. 2- Newton CR, Hearn MT, Yuzpe AA. Psychological assessment and follow-up after in vitro fertilization: assessing the impact of failure. Fertil Steril 1990;54:879–86. 3- Domar AD, Zuttermeister PC, Friedman R. The psychological impact of infertility: a comparison with patients with other medical conditions. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 1993;14 Suppl:45–52. 4- Domar AD, Clapp DE. Impact of group psychological interventions on pregnancy rates in infertile women. Fertil Steril 2000;73:805–11.