fertiShare Evaluation

Summary

Sharing bad news (SBN) is a daily challenge for fertility staff and patients. Bad news happens at all stages of fertility care and includes e.g., diagnosing infertility, reporting unexpected, repeated, or definitive treatment failure. Extensive evidence shows that SBN triggers stress in staff due to anticipation of negative emotions and evaluations or, in extreme cases, even complaints and lawsuits. Inability to manage bad news can increase negative emotions in patients and fuel distrust, potentially leading to treatment discontinuation. Efficient SBN training exists but does not address challenges of SBN in fertility care, does not meet fertility staff training and patient care preferences, and its impact on patients is unclear.

fertiShare is a brief, evidence-based, e-Learning SBN course bespoke for fertility care. The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of implementing fertiShare at fertility clinics and of implementing an online multi-centre RCT to determine fertiShare's efficacy. This will allow to conclude if fertiShare should proceed to efficacy evaluation.

An international interdisciplinary stakeholder group (patients, consultants, embryologists, nurses, psychologists, digital educators) will inform all aspects of the proposed project.

Conditions

• Infertility Assisted Reproductive Technology

Interventions

OTHER

fertiShare intervention - sharing bad news eLearning course

two-hour self-led eLearning course to support fertility staff in sharing bad news (SBN) with their patients organised in three modules. Module 1 explores definitions of bad news, why it is challenging to FHPs and patients, and the benefits of training. Module 2 offers SPIKES-based step-by-step guidance to ease SBNs. Module 3 offers guidance to cope with common challenges FHPs face: sharing bad news remotely, managing anger and uncertainty, and using good news to lessen the impact of bad news. Each module offers video content-based lessons, case studies that illustrate guidance and brief quizzes for self-reflection and assessment. Case studies show learners optimal and suboptimal approaches to SBN.

OTHER

fertiShare control - basic communication skills eLearning course

self-led eLearning course branded as fertiShare but designed to emulate the basic communication training healthcare providers receive as they undergo their professional degrees. organised in three modules. Module 1 explores definitions of bad news, why it is challenging to FHPs and patients, and the benefits of training. Module 2 introduces the communication cycle and associated communication techniques. Module 3 offers guidance regarding other basic communication skills: empathic communication, non-verbal communication, active listening and remote consultations, and communicating the likelihood of positive or negative treatment outcomes. Each module offers video content-based lessons, case studies, and brief quizzes. All teaching elements remain at the basic level (remembering and understanding instead of analysing and applying).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Wales Fertility Institute, Swansea Bay University Healthboard, Wales, UK

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Dept of Health Sciences, Milan University, Milan, Italy

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Cardiff University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sofia Gameiro, PhD · Cardiff University

• Helen Falconer · Cardiff University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-10-08

Primary Completion

2025-09-30

Completion

2026-02-28

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations