REVIEW
Supporting decision-making regarding fertility preservation in patients with cancer: An integrative review
Jeehee Han,
Sangwoo Park,
Sung Hae Kim,
Jeehee Han
Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
Search for more papers by this authorSangwoo Park
Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Sung Hae Kim
Department of Nursing, College of Health, Welfare and Education, Tongmyong University, Busan, Korea
Correspondence
Sung Hae Kim, Department of Nursing, College of Health, Welfare and Education, Tongmyong University, Room 214, Sinseon-ro 428, Nam-gu, Busan 48520, Korea.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorJeehee Han,
Sangwoo Park,
Sung Hae Kim,
Jeehee Han
Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
Search for more papers by this authorSangwoo Park
Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Sung Hae Kim
Department of Nursing, College of Health, Welfare and Education, Tongmyong University, Busan, Korea
Correspondence
Sung Hae Kim, Department of Nursing, College of Health, Welfare and Education, Tongmyong University, Room 214, Sinseon-ro 428, Nam-gu, Busan 48520, Korea.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information: This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation for Korea (NRF) (grant number: 2020R1I1A1A01049292) and Chung-Ang University Research Grants in 2021.
Abstract
Introduction
Recent reproductive technology for cancer patients has provided multiple options to preserve their fertility. Preserving fertility can increase quality of life of cancer patients. However, medical service providers and patients face difficulties in the decision-making process for the fertility preserving treatment because studies focusing on the concept of decision-making and various intervention materials are lack. This review aims to identify the attributes of interventions of studies on decision-making support interventions in cancer patients considering fertility preservation and provide best evidence for health professionals.
Methods
PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and DBpia databases were searched. An integrated review of the literature was conducted using Whittemore and Knafl's methodology.
Results
The search identified 1008 articles, of which 11 studies met eligible criteria. The attributes of the interventions were (1) provision of detailed and practical information of fertility preservation, (2) nondirective approaches to help patients to value their judgements, (3) emphasis on interactions through individualised consultations, (4) establishing connections with available resources and (5) reinforcement of decision-making support resources.
Conclusion
Health professionals must acquire current knowledge and ethical and legal standards of fertility preservation and pass this information on to patients before the formation of fertility preservation decision-making support networks within the hospital and health systems.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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