Feasibility and effects of a decision aid about fertility preservation

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow chart of recruitment and in- and exclusion of patients.

Table 1. Use of information materials by the study participants.

	Brochure group (n = 13^a)	Decision aid group (n = 13^a)
Brochures read, n(%)
General brochure	10 (83)	10 (91)
Cryopreservation of embryos	10 (83)	8 (73)
Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue	7 (58)	4 (36)
Cryopreservation of oocytes^b	6 (50)	3 (27)
All brochures	5 (42)	3 (27)
Other	–	–
Use of the DA, n (%)	–	7 (54)
Textual information read	–	7 (100)
VCE + textual information used	–	6 (86)
Website + brochures used	–	6 (86)
Counselling consultation n (%)
Fertility/gynaecology	11 (92)	12 (100)
Oncology	4 (33)	5 (42)

^a Due to missing values, all percentages are calculated on a total of resp. 12 and 11 women in the brochure and DA groups.

^b Became available halfway the study period.

DA: decision aid; VCE: values clarification exercise.

Table 2. Socio-demographic and medical characteristics of the participants.

	Brochure group (n = 13)	Decision aid group (n = 13)
Age, mean (range)	32.9 (28–39)	35.8 (30–40)
Male partner, n (%)	12/13 (92)	12/13 (92)
Of whom cohabiting n (%)	10/12 (83)	12/12 (100)
Parity 0<, n (%)	7/13 (54)	7/13 (54)
Desire for children, yes (%)	13/13 (100)	13/13 (100)
Religious, no (%)	7/13 (54)	8/13 (62)
Educational level
Low	1/13 (7)	–
Middle	3/13 (23)	3/13 (23)
High	9/13 (69)	10/13 (77)
Self-reported breast cancer treatment^a
Surgery	12/12 (100)	11/11 (100)
Chemotherapy	12/12 (100)	8/11 (73)
Radiotherapy	7/12 (58)	10/11 (91)
Endocrine therapy	7/12 (58)	10/11 (91)
Immunotherapy	3/12 (25)	1/11 (9)

^a Due to missing values, percentages are calculated on a total of resp. 12 and 11 women in the brochure and Decision aid groups.

Table 3. Decision making processes and outcomes for the study participants (n = 26).

	Brochures (n = 13)		Brochures + DA (n = 13)
	Mean ± SD	Mdn	Mean ± SD	Mdn	p value/z value/Cohen’s d
Knowledge
T0	5.7 ± 1.8	5.7	5.5 ± 1.8	5	p = 0.772/z= −0.289/d= −0.06
T1	6.9 ± 1.5	6.7	7.0 ± 1.6	7	p = 0.668/z= −0.576/d= −0.12
T2	6.6 ± 1.2	6.6	7.1 ± 1.4	7	p = 0.264/z= −1.1448/d= −0.24
Total decisional conflict scale (DCS)
T1	15.9 ± 8.9	17.8	21.7 ± 14.8	23.4	p = 0.256/z= −1.137/d= −0.24
T2	14.2 ± 10.6	14.1	23.7 ± 17.9	28.1	p = 0.115/z= −1.585/d= −0.34
Values clarity (DCS)
T1	14.3 ± 15.4	8.3	24.1 ± 16.5	25	p = 0.105/z= −1.625/d= −0.32
T2	15.3 ± 13.5	16.6	29.5 ± 27.2	25	p = 0.147/z= −1.47/d= −0.25
Decision making support (DCS)
T1	16.9 ± 16.0	15.7	22.2 ± 15.8	25	p = 0. 465/z= −0.736/d= −0.14
T2	12.6 ± 13.4	8.3	21.3 ± 14.7	25	p = 0.145/z= −1.468/d= −0.25
Effective decision making (DCS)
T1	5.4 ± 7.6	0.0	16.1 ± 12.5	18.7	p = 0.024/z= −2.262/d= −0.44
T2	10.7 ± 11.9	6.3	18.7 ± 16.9	13.8	p = 0.181/z= −1.342/d= −0.22
Informed decision making (DCS)
T1	30.3 ± 20.8	33.3	25.2 ± 22.8	25	p = 0.531/z= −0.629/d= −0.12
T2	21.3 ± 18.8	25.0	29.3 ± 28.8	25	p = 0.616/z= −0.504/d= −0.08
Decision making uncertainty (DCS)
T1	16.9 ± 16.3	16.6	23.8 ± 21.2	25	p = 0.307/z= −1.022/d= −0.20
T2	11.9 ± 10.0	13.5	20.8 ± 13.8	25	p = 0.07/z= −1.792/d= −0.30
Decisional regret
T1	13.9 ± 11.3	10.6	18.6 ± 16.3	15	p = 0.438/z= −0.783/d = 0.016
T2	17.6 ± 11.2	18.6	24.7 ± 20.6	22.5	p = 0.499/z= −0.068/d = 0.014
Anticipated regret (T0)
From not undergoing FP	1.85 ± 1.2	2.0	2.23 ± 0.93	2	p = 0.461/z= −0.738/d= −0.15
From undergoing FP	0.15 ± 0.38	0.0	0.23 ± 0.44	0	p = 0.626/z= −0.488/d= −0.10
Reproductive concerns
T0	13.1 ± 7.3	11.0	13.4 ± 7.9	15	p = 0.898/z= −0.128/d = 0.13
T1	12.3 ± 7.1	12.5	11.1 ± 4.8	12.8	p = 0.895/z= −0.132/d = 0.11
T2	10.7 ± 4.9	9.0	13.4 ± 6.4	15	p = 0.079/z= −1.759/d = 0.62

Minimum–maximum scores: knowledge 0–10; total Decisional conflict scale (DCS), including subscales 0–100; decisional regret 0–100; anticipated regret 0–5; reproductive concerns 0–40.

DA: decision aid; FP: fertility preservation.