Oncologists' and pediatric oncologists' perspectives and challenges for fertility preservation

AbstractInternational guidelines recommend that health ‐care providers initiate discussions about the impact of treatment on fertility with cancer patients of reproductive age, or with parents/legal guardians of children, as early as possible in the treatment process. Still, both physicians and patients confirm that this is not always the case. This l iterature review summarizes findings regarding oncologists' and pediatric oncologists' perspectives and challenges of providing fertility preservation care, and points out directions for development. The results concerning the challenges facing clinicians are consistent and encompass both internal a nd external factors. The internal factors relate to clinicians' characteristics and values and include their knowledge of fertility preservation, clinical experience, perceptions of patients' plans for children, and how comfortable they are to discuss sensitive issues. The external factors relate to the availability of health‐care services and the organization of care, including the clinicians' working conditions. Several strategies to overcome identified challenges for clinicians to provide high‐quality fertility preservation care are proposed. These include educational interventions to i ncrease clinicians' knowledge about treatment‐induced fertility impairment and available fertility preservation measures, as well as interventions aimed to increase clinicians' readiness and competence to communicate with patients and their...
Source: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research