Promoting fertility preservation in cancer patients: five years experience in “on site” training courses (TC)
Lucia Speziale (IT), Giulia Scaravelli (IT), Simone Fiaccavento (IT), Roberta Spoletini (IT), Vincenzo Vigiliano (IT), Roberto De Luca (IT), Paola D'aloja (IT), Alessia D'acunti (IT), Lucia De Santis (IT)
[SPEZIALE] ITALIAN NATIONAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, [SCARAVELLI] ITALIAN NATIONAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, [FIACCAVENTO] ITALIAN NATIONAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, [SPOLETINI] ITALIAN NATIONAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, [VIGILIANO] ITALIAN NATIONAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, [DE LUCA] ITALIAN NATIONAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, [D'ALOJA] ITALIAN NATIONAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, [D'ACUNTI] AIMaC Onlus, [DE SANTIS] 4. San Raffaele Scientific Institute
Today over 60% of neoplastic patients in their childbearing age will recover. Cancer therapy still could generate long-term consequences including the loss of reproductive function. To overcome this discomfort and envisage a better quality of life after the disease, as recommended from ASCO guidelines, it is essential that health care workers involved in the assistance of cancer patients (CP) are prepared to counsel them about the risks of a possible impairment of reproductive capacity and the chance of fertility preservation (FP). Objective To assess characteristics and feedback of medical, paramedical attending the TC offered by the Italian National Health Institute (ISS). Methods 6 topics on FP were debates by specialists in reproductive medicine, oncology, embryology and psychology. All participants completed 1 survey for TC evaluation and another with learning questions. In 2016 we sent a survey to the participants at the TC to investigate the usefulness of the information offered by TC and their suggestions to improve the educational format. Patient(s) N.A Intervention(s) 2011-2015 ISS in team with experts in reproductive medicine carried out 9 TC on FP. We evaluated the approach of reaching face-to-face the personnel directly involved, analyzing their professional profile and feedback. Main Outcome Measure(s) Participants rated the quality of educational program and usefulness of training positively (4.3 and 4 respectively on a scale 1-5). Result(s) 264 specialists attended the TC. 212 of them (161 women, 51 men) passed the learning test. The mean age was 43.3 years for women and 53 for men. Conclusions The study demonstrates the need to extend the culture of FP in CP among health care workers, particularly among oncologists that should be the major target audience. The presence of many women suggests a higher responsiveness and involvement in this topic.