P-461 Patients need fertility specialists to improve communication depth, quality and frequency in order to promote transparency, understanding and empathy with the patient
Authors: Mishin I , Kfir Y , Israel R , Zepeda A , Eshed E , Bergelson N , Ben-Meir A , Har-vardi I , Hickman C , Gottesman J 
Published: June 2023

Study question

What are the key pain-points that patients experience during fertility treatments? Based on patient perception, how can fertility clinics improve their standard of care?

Summary answer

Most patients would like to receive regular updates and more detailed explanation from their doctor, yet this happened in only half of the cases.

What is known already

IVF treatments have an emotional, psychological and economical toll on patients. On previous studies, half the women reported that infertility is the most upsetting experience of their lives, approximately 20% of the males and females had dysfunctional emotional distress or personal difficulties. Patient’s needs, pain points, expectations and education, therefore, require further research.

Study design, size, duration

An electronic survey was dispensed via the Embie mobile application or e-mail to women registered to Embie who have given their consent for communication. 98 women completed the survey from December 26th 2022 to January 15th 2023. The respondent profile was: White, Well-educated, from USA, 70% aged 31-40, 44% aged 31-35, heterosexual, tech oriented (100% Embie users), no kids, middle and upper middle class.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The survey contained questions on demographics, IVF history, understanding of how patients choose their fertility clinic, how they educate themselves on their treatment options, how they communicate with their healthcare providers, awareness of AI, how they fund their treatment, their expectations for the clinic's equipment, usage of new advanced technologies and level of involvement in their fertility care.

Main results and the role of chance

Pricing is a pain-point for IVF patients, yet it does not affect their clinic choice, which is primarily linked to clinic location and doctor reputation. Most patients are willing to pay for modern technology. 58% of respondents state that the doctor discusses with them their chances of having a successful pregnancy, yet only 16% of women confidently know their chances of taking home a healthy baby. &gt;90% of patients state that they would like to receive regular updates and detailed explanation from their doctor, yet this happened in only half of the cases. “Transparency of the process and decision making” is the most important tool for patients to empower themselves, followed by “answering my questions in detail”. While 60% feel comfortable approaching the doctor with questions, 40% state they search for an answer prior to asking the doctor. Almost all patients expand their knowledge before and after discussions with the doctors by Internet and by approaching experienced peers. Patients expect high-tech in clinics and are ready to pay for that. 92% of patients describe at least 1 pain point with their clinic: primarily communication: inconsistent communication (39%), lack of transparency (17%), lack of understanding (12%) and lack of empathy (4%).

Limitations, reasons for caution

The respondents mostly came from the USA and represented a non-diverse group. These findings may not generalize to other geographies or socio-economic groups.

Wider implications of the findings

The more the healthcare provider shares and involves the patient, the better the education they receive, and the less likely they will seek alternative information elsewhere which may be less medically accurate. Healthcare providers must educate themselves on the latest innovative technologies to meet patient expectations.

Trial registration number

n/a