Development of an Instrument to Examine Nursing Attitudes Toward Fertility Preservation in Oncology.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To develop an instrument to measure staff nurse perceptions of the barriers to and benefits of addressing fertility preservation (FP) with patients newly diagnosed with cancer. 
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DESIGN: A prospective, nonrandomized instrument development approach. 
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SETTING: Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. 
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SAMPLE: 224 RNs who care for patients with cancer. 
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METHODS: The instrument was developed with content experts and field-tested with oncology staff nurses. Responses to a web-based survey were used in exploratory factor analysis. After refining the instrument, the authors conducted a confirmatory factor analysis with 230 web-based survey responses. 
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MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Self-perceived barriers to providing FP options to patients newly diagnosed with cancer.
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FINDINGS

The results supported a 15-item instrument with five domains.

CONCLUSIONS: This instrument can be used to explore oncology nurses' attitudes toward FP in newly diagnosed people with cancer in their reproductive years. 
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IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

A more comprehensive understanding of attitudes and barriers related to FP will guide the building of optimal systems that support effective FP options, resources, and programs for individuals with cancer.