Arafa Mostafa A, Abdulkader Seham M, Farhat Karim H, Rabah Danny M, Awartani Deana K, Aldriweesh Amani A, Awartani Khalid A, Alkahtani Mashel K, Alsadhan Ghadh A, Mohamed Doaa A
Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, SAU.
Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EGY.
Cureus. 2023 Sep 2;15(9):e44562. doi: 10.7759/cureus.44562. eCollection 2023 Sep.
The current practice of offering fertility preservation (FP) counseling and treatment has become one of the focal points in patient care throughout cancer treatment. The turning point was the approval of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars four years ago to freeze tissues from the ovarian membrane, the entire ovary, and the eggs for later use in reproduction to preserve the offspring. Thus, we aimed to assess any development in oncologists' knowledge, attitude, and referral practices regarding FP in Saudi Arabia.
This is a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire. We assessed oncologists' opinions on the importance of FP, their perception of the patient's preferences, and factors to consider when discussing the subject. Then, we assessed the knowledge and referral practices, including the timing of referral before starting cancer treatment.
Most oncologists showed good knowledge and positive attitudes toward FP; however, their referral practices could be better. Most were familiar with FP options. The most significant factors influencing the oncologist-patient FP discussion were the number of existing children, marital status, cost, and type of cancer (96.6%, 76.7%, 65.7%, and 58.9%, respectively).
There is a significant improvement in the knowledge and attitude of oncologists toward FP. However, patients' counseling and referral to fertility services still need to be improved. There is a shortfall in the clinical practice guidelines for FP in cancer patients in Saudi Arabia. The implementation of clinical practice guidelines would enhance FP. However, patients' counseling and referral to fertility services still need to be improved. The lack of proper guidelines on FP is affecting oncologists' practice.
目前提供生育力保存（FP）咨询和治疗的做法已成为癌症治疗全过程患者护理的重点之一。转折点是四年前高级宗教学者理事会批准冷冻卵巢膜、整个卵巢和卵子组织以供日后生殖使用以保存后代。因此，我们旨在评估沙特阿拉伯肿瘤学家在FP方面的知识、态度和转诊实践的任何发展情况。
这是一项使用自填式问卷的横断面调查。我们评估了肿瘤学家对FP重要性的看法、他们对患者偏好的认知以及讨论该主题时需考虑的因素。然后，我们评估了知识和转诊实践，包括在开始癌症治疗前的转诊时机。
大多数肿瘤学家对FP表现出良好的知识和积极态度；然而，他们的转诊实践还有待改进。大多数人熟悉FP选项。影响肿瘤学家与患者进行FP讨论的最重要因素是现有子女数量、婚姻状况、费用和癌症类型（分别为96.6%、76.7%、65.7%和58.9%）。
肿瘤学家在FP方面的知识和态度有了显著改善。然而，患者咨询和转介至生育服务仍需改进。沙特阿拉伯癌症患者FP的临床实践指南存在不足。临床实践指南的实施将加强FP。然而，患者咨询和转介至生育服务仍需改进。缺乏关于FP的适当指南正在影响肿瘤学家的实践。
