Facilitators and obstacles to sperm banking in young men receiving gonadotoxic chemotherapy for cancer: the perspective of survivors and health care professionals

Abstract

Background: Testicular cancer and Hodgkin's disease are among the most common malignancies to affect young men of reproductive age. Although both are associated with high rates of infertility, sperm banking (SB) remains underutilized by both diagnostic groups. Reasons for this remain elusive.

Methods: This study used a qualitative design. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 cancer survivors and 18 health care professionals (HCPs) to examine their perspectives on factors that facilitate or hinder SB. Interview data were analysed using a mixed approach and a three-step process of data reduction, data display and conclusion drawing and verification.

Results: Eight factors were identified as having an impact on SB, and findings suggest that effective promotion of SB involves adequate communication around the severity and personal risk for infertility, assessing the importance of patients place on having children, emphasizing the benefits of SB and addressing possible obstacles such as cost, misperceptions or cultural and other factors. In addition, the communicator should be perceived as appealing.

Conclusions: These results are conceptually consistent with both the Health Belief Model and the Elaboration Likelihood Model of health promotion and are useful in informing HCPs on how to better promote SB.