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Structured abstract
Objective
Determine if group psychoeducational support can improve in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients’ quality of life (QoL)
Design
Randomized controlled trial (NCT04048772)
Subjects
Women (n=76) and male partners undergoing initial autologous IVF cycle 8/2019 – 12/2020.
Interventions
Couples were assigned to groups based upon projected oocyte retrieval date. Groups were randomly assigned to the control or intervention arm. Clinic closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic delayed treatment for a portion of participants. Groups were conducted in person prior to- and virtually during the pandemic.
Main Outcome Measures
The primary outcome was change in FertiQoL from baseline to 3 days after retrieval. Secondary outcomes were change in depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience scale), and IVF knowledge scores, and likelihood of return to treatment.
Results
Knowledge scores among women in CALM IVF groups significantly increased compared with control (mean difference 13.19 [3.53 – 22.84], p=0.011) prior to the pandemic. During the pandemic, women in CALM IVF had significant improvement in the social FertiQoL score compared to controls (10.42 [1.79 – 19.04], p=0.023). Compared to controls, male CALM IVF participants had significantly greater improvement in total FertiQoL (mean difference 6.68 [0.39 – 12.98], p=0.039), treatment FertiQoL (8.26 [0.69 – 15.82], p=0.034), and resilience (Connor-Davidson 1.13 [0.54 – 1.72], p=0.001). Immediate return to care did not significantly differ between arms.
Conclusion
For women undergoing IVF, group psychoeducational programs can improve IVF knowledge and social QoL during a pandemic. Participation in a group psychoeducational program can improve QoL and resilience in IVF dyad male partners.
Keywords
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 4,
2023
Received in revised form:
January 4,
2023
Received:
September 7,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Accepted ManuscriptFootnotes
Funding statement: No funding was received for this study.
Disclosure statement: The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to report.
Attestation Statement: The subjects in this trial have not concomitantly been involved in other randomized trials. Data regarding any of the subjects in the study has not been previously published. Data will be made available to the editors of the journal for review or query upon request.
Trial registration: NCT04048772; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04048772. Registration date: August 7, 2019. First subject enrolled on August 9, 2019.
Trial registration NCT04048772
Identification
Copyright
© 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
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