Oncofertility Knowledge and Communication: Comparison Between Medical and Surgical Oncologists and Breast Cancer Patients in Academic Chinese Centers

Frontiers in Surgery

卷:8

Steven R. Lindheim¹  Hongwei Zhang³  Zhaochen Xin³  Leslie Coker Appiah⁵  Rui Li⁶  Ewelina Biskup⁷  Yun Sun⁸  Yao Lu⁸  John P. Zucal⁹ 

[1] Center for Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China;

[2] Department of Basic and Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China;

[3] Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China;

[4] Department of Medical Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China;

[5] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Colorado, Denver, CO, United States;

[6] Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States;

[7] International Center for Multimorbidity and Complexity in Medicine (ICMC), Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland;

[8] Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China;

[9] Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH, United States;

关键词: oncofertility;    fertility preservation;    breast cancer;    breast cancer survivors;    oncology;    oncologist;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fsurg.2021.681614

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: As cancer has become a major public health issue in China, fertility preservation remains limited despite the wide application of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) throughout the country.Objective: This study aimed to identify gaps in knowledge and communication as well as referrals in the previous year regarding oncofertility among medical and surgical oncologists and breast cancer patients (BCPs) in Chinese academic settings to target areas of needed improvement.Materials and Methods: A WeChat online questionnaire was designed, distributed, and compared between medical and surgical oncology specialists and reproductive age BCPs in academic teaching settings in Shanghai.Results: Sixty-one medical and surgical oncologists and 125 BCPs responded to the survey. 63.3% of oncologists were familiar with the term “oncofertility” compared to 25.6% of BCPs (p < 0.001). Oncologists were more likely to correctly know the costs associated with treatment (59.0 vs. 32.0%, p < 0.001); patient did not have to be married to undergo oncofertility treatment (50.8 vs. 24.8%, p < 0.001). Both oncologists and BCPs were similarly unlikely to know when patients could utilize cryopreserved tissue in the future (37.7 vs. 22.2%, p = 0.056). While oncologists reported they discussed all oncofertility options (41.0%) and offered psychological counseling (98.4%), significantly fewer BCPs reported receiving information on all options and offered counseling (3.2%, p < 0.001 and 85.6%, p < 0.01). Knowledge of oncofertility was the most important predictor for providing and receiving counseling from oncologists [OR = 6.44 (95% CI = 1.59–26.1, p = 0.009] and BCPs (OR = 3.73 95% CI: = 1.36–10.2, p = 0.011). Overall, 57.4% of oncologists referred <10 patients and none referred more than 25 patients in the past year.Conclusion: Data suggests a significant knowledge gap and ineffective communication/comprehension exists between academic Chinese oncologists and BCPs. Continued education and raised awareness are needed to optimize utilization of oncofertility services in China.

【 授权许可】

Unknown