A qualitative study exploring counselling for release of information to participants of a donor-assisted conception programme

Abstract

Worldwide, donor-assisted conceptions are increasing with legislative reforms in some countries providing opportunities for participants of a donor-assisted conception programme, i.e. recipients, donors, donor-conceived adults and their genetically related siblings and half-siblings, to access information. Whilst policy and practice for accessing donor-identifying information vary, there has been no research exploring the perceptions and experiences of those who provide the service. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of Australian and New Zealand infertility counsellors who provide counselling for release of information to participants of a donor-assisted conception programme. Using a qualitative research design, in-depth interview data of six infertility counsellors were thematically analysed to identify key themes. We report the primary themes that emerged from the data which include professional perspectives on the role of counsellor in the counselling process, the professional and societal responsibility to provide counselling, and influences on professional practice. Findings from this qualitative study can be used as a platform for larger international studies on the clinical practice of donor information release and to inform clinical practice and service delivery. The implications of these results for policy and future longitudinal research are also discussed.

Keywords::

• donor-assisted conception
• infertility counsellor
• donor information
• counselling practice
• legislation

Authors’ roles

IR was responsible for the study design, writing the manuscript, assisting with subject recruitment and confirmatory analysis. HC was responsible for the study design, participant interviews, thematic data analysis and contributed to writing the manuscript. MH and SMP were responsible for the study design and contributed to the review of the manuscript.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the counsellors who generously gave their time to be interviewed for the study. We are most grateful to the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA), sub-group of the Fertility Society of Australia, who assisted with recruitment of study participants by publicising the research to their members. We would also like to thank Ms Kylie McCullough and Ms Suzanne Midford for their contributions in the initial stages of this research.

Declaration of interest: The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. The authors acknowledge partial funding provided by the Reproductive Technology Council of Western Australia.