Fertility knowledge and associated empowerment following an educational intervention for adolescent cancer patients

Introduction/objectives: Fertility preservation is a major concern for adolescent cancer patients; yet, educational gaps remain. Our intervention study examined whether specially designed educational materials regarding fertility preservation increase knowledge and empowerment of patients and parents.

Methods: Eleven paediatric-oncological centres in four European countries agreed to enrol all eligible patients and parents in a questionnaire survey at 3 and 6 months after diagnosis. Treating physicians were surveyed on their medical consultation regarding fertility.

Results: Educational intervention increased knowledge in both patients (n = 113 and n = 101 in the control and intervention groups, respectively) and parents (n = 111 and n = 99 in the control and intervention groups, respectively), but the difference did not achieve statistical significance (knowledge difference patients: 5.6% (t0)/13.1% (t1); parents: 6.4% (t0)/3.8% (t1)). Parents of older patients (OR = 1.3, 95%CI = 1.1-1.7) and higher educational groups (OR = 6.2, 95%CI = 2.1-18.3) in the intervention group (OR = 1.9, 95%CI = 1.03-3.7) achieved higher knowledge levels. Empowerment was significantly improved in both patients (p = 0.046, d = 0.27) and parents (p = 0.046, d = 0.48) in the intervention group.

Discussion/conclusions: In our study, the use of specifically prepared flyers and brochures successfully raised the level of fertility preservation knowledge in parents of older patients as well as parents with higher educational levels. Overall, the intervention improved patient and parent empowerment. Subsequent projects will include simpler information and digital material to particularly reach out to younger and less educated individuals.