title: Cancer and Fertility Program Improves Patient Satisfaction With Information Received.
abstract: A cancer and fertility program was established at a large cancer center to support clinicians in discussing treatment-related fertility risks and fertility preservation (FP) options with patients and in referring patients to reproductive specialists. The program provides resources, clinician education, and fertility clinical nurse specialist consultation. This study evaluated the program's impact on patient satisfaction with information received.
  
  
  
  Retrospective cross-sectional surveys assessed satisfaction before (cohort 1 [C1]) and after (cohort 2 [C2]) program initiation. Questionnaires were investigator-designed, gender-specific, and anonymous.
  
  
  
  Most C1 (150 males, 271 females) and C2 (120 males, 320 females) respondents were 2 years postdiagnosis; the most frequently reported cancers were testicular, breast, and lymphoma. A significant difference in satisfaction with the amount of information received was seen between C1 and C2. For males, satisfaction with information on fertility risks was high in both cohorts but significantly greater in C2 for information on sperm banking (χ(2) = 9.3, P = .01) and finding a sperm bank (χ(2) = 13.3, P = .001). For females, satisfaction with information was significantly greater in C2 for information on fertility risks (χ(2) = 62.1, P < .001), FP options (χ(2) = 71.9, P < .001), help with decision making (χ(2) = 80.2, P < .001), and finding a reproductive endocrinologist (χ(2) = 60.5, P < .001). Among patients who received and read information materials, 96% of males and 99% of females found them helpful. Among C2 females, fertility clinical nurse specialist consultation was associated with significantly greater satisfaction with information on FP options (χ(2) = 11.2, P = .004), help with decision making (χ(2) = 10.4, P = .006), and finding a reproductive endocrinologist (χ(2) = 22.6, P < .001), with 10% reporting lack of knowledge as a reason for not pursuing FP.
  
  
  
  Improvements in patient satisfaction with information received demonstrate the potential for fertility programs in cancer care settings to improve the quality of clinician-patient discussions about fertility.
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA kelvinj@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: Joanne F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kelvin
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA.
authors.forename: Bridgette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thom
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA.
authors.forename: Stacie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA.
authors.forename: Maura N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Dickler
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA.
authors.forename: Karyn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Margolies
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Matasar
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA.
authors.forename: Ariela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noy
authors.affiliation: Joanne F. Kelvin, Bridgette Thom, Jeanne Carter, Stacie Corcoran, Maura N. Dickler, Matthew J. Matasar, Ariela Noy, and Shari B. Goldfarb, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Catherine Benedict, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY; Karyn A. Goodman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; and Allison Margolies, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA.
authors.forename: Shari B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D059247:Fertility Preservation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies