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BMC Women's Health
Published in: BMC Women's Health 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Fertility | Research article

Preferred problem solving and decision-making role in fertility treatment among women following an unsuccessful in vitro fertilization cycle

Authors: Celia Hoi Yan Chan, Bobo Hi Po Lau, Michelle Yi Jun Tam, Ernest Hung Yu Ng

Published in: BMC Women's Health | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

While the literature on healthcare decision-making has long focused on doctor-patient interaction, fertility treatment is an exception, characterized by a triangular interplay between the doctor, the woman and her partner. This study examined treatment decision-making preferences of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, following an unsuccessful IVF cycle, especially their preferred level of doctor and spousal involvement.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 246 Chinese women undergoing IVF recruited from an assisted reproduction clinic of a university-affiliated hospital in Hong Kong. Data collection was conducted between January 2014 and August 2015.

Results

Most participants preferred sharing the decision-making tasks with their doctors (92%). In the doctor-patient relationship, passive roles were associated with higher marital satisfaction, presence of religious affiliation and secondary infertility, while autonomous roles were related to female-factor infertility. Fifty-two percent of participants anticipated sharing decision-making, while 46% preferred handing over the decision to their husbands. Preference for a passive rather than a shared role in the spousal relationship was related to a higher husband’s age, greater marital satisfaction and higher anxiety.

Conclusions

In brief, women tended to prefer sharing decision-making tasks with their doctor as well as actively engaging their partner in making decisions about fertility treatment. This study adds to our understanding of women’s role preference and level of involvement in infertility treatment decision-making by providing quantitative evidence from women’s experience. It highlights the importance of healthcare professionals in facilitating shared decision-making among couples.
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Metadata
Title
Preferred problem solving and decision-making role in fertility treatment among women following an unsuccessful in vitro fertilization cycle
Authors
Celia Hoi Yan Chan
Bobo Hi Po Lau
Michelle Yi Jun Tam
Ernest Hung Yu Ng
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Women's Health / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6874
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-019-0856-5

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