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Perceptions of Oncology Nurses Regarding Fertility Preservation and Providing Oncofertility Services for Men of Childbearing Age with Cancer

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Abstract

This study investigated the knowledge, thoughts, and attitudes of oncology nurses in China regarding fertility preservation for male cancer patients of childbearing age, and for offering counseling or oncofertility services for the men in their care. Data was collected from 18 oncology nurses in Southwest China through voluntary self-report and in-depth interviews. The qualitative interview data were analyzed using a descriptive phenomenology method based on the lived experience of the nurses. The interviewees commonly reported 6 main concerns regarding fertility preservation (FP): their insufficient knowledge and inadequate nursing education; the importance of offering such services to cancer patients; legal vulnerability if FP information is withheld from patients; the role of the nurse in counseling; and barriers to discussing FP in practice. Nurses had a positive attitude toward FP, but most had no practical role in routinely informing male patients of their options, and the nurses believed that discussion of FP was outside their scope of practice. This study offers insight into the perceptions of oncology nurses in a developing country regarding the provision of FP services for adult male cancer patients. These results lead us to recommend that local fertility nurses should be given new training regarding FP. Furthermore, nurse-led clinics are desirable. Future research should focus on the effectiveness of nurse participation in FP counseling and referral, and how to improve the professional confidence of oncology nurses for addressing FP issues.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This study is supported by the Supported by Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2019YFH0105).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gerontological and Oncology Nursing, Division of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

    Han-Feng Zhang & Mika Miyashita

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China

    Han-Feng Zhang, Qing-Hua Jiang, Ying-Hong Fang, Li Jin, Gui-Yu Huang, Jing Wang & Hong-Fang Bai

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  1. Han-Feng Zhang
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  2. Qing-Hua Jiang
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Contributions

Han-feng Zhang and Mika Miyashita contributed to the study conception and design. The literature search was performed by Han-feng Zhang, Qing-hua Jiang, and Gui-yu Huang. The data analysis was performed by Han-feng Zhang, Qing-hua Jiang, Ying-hong Fang, Gui-yu Huang, Li JIN, Jing Wang, and Hong-fang Bai. Han-feng Zhang, Qing-hua Jiang, and Ying-hong Fang contributed to interpretation of the data. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Han-feng Zhang and Mika Miyashita critically revised the draft. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mika Miyashita.

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Zhang, HF., Jiang, QH., Fang, YH. et al. Perceptions of Oncology Nurses Regarding Fertility Preservation and Providing Oncofertility Services for Men of Childbearing Age with Cancer. J Canc Educ 38, 16–23 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-021-02070-7

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