Cancer, Fertility and Me.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cancer, Fertility and Me: The development and evaluation of a fertility preservation decision aid to support women with cancer.
IRAS ID
194751
Contact name
Georgina Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
STH18724, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals reference number
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study aims to improve the support provided to female cancer patients thinking about preserving their fertility. Although the chances of long term survival after cancer have improved dramatically, one of the consequences of cancer treatment for some women can be loss of fertility. Women surviving cancer live with the choices they make about their fertility for the rest of their lives, therefore it is vital that they feel enabled and supported in making the right decision for them in terms of fertility preservation. There are options that can be offered to women to preserve their fertility. However, we know from existing research that women do not feel well informed or supported in making these choices. Although referred to see a fertility expert to gain more information about these options, women want to receive this specialist information sooner and in the context of their cancer treatment.
The study involves four stages. Firstly, we will develop a Decision Aid for patients. This will be developed with the study team, oncologists, nurse specialists, fertility experts, decision scientists and patients. In stage 2 we will carry out a focus group with patients to refine the content and format of the information. In Stage 3 we will then introduce the Decision Aid into Sheffield and Leeds Teaching Hospitals. These will be offered to all women at the point of diagnosis who would like more information on their fertility options. We will measure the impact of these resources upon patient levels of anxiety, their experiences of the cancer consultation, decision making change, decisional regret and quality of life. In Stage 4 we will undertake a process evaluation to examine how the interventions are delivered and received and whether or not the patients benefit from their delivery.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0122
Date of REC Opinion
5 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion