Parents' perception of enhanced oncofertility care in childhood cancer patients following routine fertility informing.
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BACKGROUND: The 5-year survival rate of childhood cancer is >80%, indicating a large number of survivors. Infertility is a late effect of cancer treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the perception of early routine fertility informing of families of children with cancer as part of oncofertility care before and after the implementation of routine informing procedure. METHODS: We evaluated and compared the quality of oncofertility care before and after routine fertility informing was implemented. The baseline group was evaluated between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2022, using the oncofertility care evaluation questionnaire. Infertility risk was determined retrospectively in this group. On 1 July 2022, routine fertility informing was implemented. Thereafter, infertility risk was assessed prospectively, and families were informed by a dedicated staff member. The second group completed the same questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the respondents in the second group, 63.6% reported having had an opportunity to discuss fertility (vs. 37.5% of the first group; p = 0.002), 42.4% had received supportive material (vs. 10.7%; p = 0.003), 24.2% had questions about fertility after education (vs. 42.9%; p = 0.003), and 59% felt knowledgeable about the effects of treatment on fertility (vs. 32.1%, p = 0.001). Infertility risk was estimated correctly by 15.2% of respondents before implementation of routine informing compared with 63.6% after implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Routine and early fertility informing of families of children with cancer as standard of care significantly improved patients' perception of oncofertility care. Parental awareness of fertility-related issues increased substantially.