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Creating Affiliations, Learning, and Mindfulness for In Vitro Fertilization patients (CALM IVF): A clinical trial
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Creating Affiliations, Learning, and Mindfulness for In Vitro Fertilization patients (CALM IVF): A clinical trial

Rachel M. Whynott, Karen M. Summers, Rachel B. Mejia, Lisa S. Segre, Ginny Ryan and Stacey A. Pawlak
F&S Reports (Online), Vol.4(1), pp.61-71
03/2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.xfre.2023.01.002
PMCID: PMC10028477
PMID: 36959953
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfre.2023.01.002View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Objective: Determine if group psychoeducational support can improve in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients’ quality of life (QoL). Design: Randomized controlled trial (NCT04048772). Setting: University-affiliated IVF clinic. Patient(s): Women (n = 76) and male partners undergoing initial autologous IVF cycle from August 2019, to December 2020. Intervention(s): Couples were assigned to groups based on projected oocyte retrieval date. Groups were randomly assigned to the control or intervention arm. Clinic closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic delayed treatment for a portion of participants. Groups were conducted in person before and virtually during the pandemic. Main Outcome Measure(s): The primary outcome was a change in fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) from baseline to 3 days after retrieval. Secondary outcomes were changes in depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7), resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience scale), IVF knowledge scores, and the likelihood of return to treatment. Result(s): Knowledge scores among women in Creating Affiliations, Learning, and Mindfulness (CALM) for IVF groups significantly increased compared with control (mean difference 13.19 [3.53 – 22.84]) before the pandemic. During the pandemic, women in CALM IVF had significant improvement in the social FertiQoL score compared with controls (10.42 [1.79 – 19.04]). Compared with controls, male CALM IVF participants had significantly greater improvement in total FertiQoL (mean difference 6.68 [0.39 – 12.98]), treatment FertiQoL (8.26 [0.69 – 15.82]), and resilience (Connor-Davidson 1.13 [0.54 – 1.72]). Immediate return to care did not significantly differ between arms. Conclusion(s): For women undergoing IVF, group psychoeducational programs can improve IVF knowledge and social QoL during a pandemic. Participation in a group psychoeducational program can improve QoL and resilience in IVF dyad male partners. Clinical Trial Registration Number: Trial registration NCT04048772.

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