Abstract
Purpose:
This study evaluates the impact of a personalized educational session on survivors' knowledge of risk for infertility and describes preferences for reproductive health care.
Methods:
This was a two-phase prospective study of an individualized education session for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors aged 18–21 years. Sessions used sex-specific visual aids (phase I) or a personalized handout (phase II). Surveys assessing knowledge of overall risk for infertility (yes/no), level of risk (none, low, moderate, or high), relative impact of treatment on the window of fertility (same/less than peers), and the need to use protection to prevent pregnancy (yes/no) were completed at baseline and 1-month follow-up. Changes in knowledge were assessed using McNemar's test. Preferences for fertility education and fertility status assessment were ascertained.
Results:
In phase I (n = 44), the educational intervention improved knowledge on the impact on the fertility window (from 69.7% correct responses to 90.9%; p = 0.03). In phase II (n = 54), the addition of a personalized, take-home visual aid significantly improved knowledge across all four concepts: knowledge of risk (68.4%–93.1%; p = 0.03), risk level (39.5%–86.8%; p < 0.001), impact on the fertility window (55.3%–86.8%; p = 0.003), and protection for pregnancy prevention (62.2%–81.1%; p = 0.03). Nearly all males (97%) and 66% of females preferred private sessions. The majority of survivors (73%) would like to undergo fertility status testing in the next 5 years.
Conclusion:
In this sample of AYA cancer survivors, individualized education sessions with personalized visual aids and assessment of survivors' understanding of information significantly improved knowledge of key reproductive health concepts.
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