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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 Mar;23(3):554-66.
doi: 10.1093/humrep/dem306. Epub 2007 Dec 18.

Online psychoeducational support for infertile women: a randomized controlled trial

Tara M Cousineau  1 , Traci C Green, Evelyn Corsini, A Seibring, Marianne T Showstack, Linda Applegarth, Marie Davidson, Mark Perloe
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Online psychoeducational support for infertile women: a randomized controlled trial

Tara M Cousineau et al. Hum Reprod. 2008 Mar.

Abstract

Background: The study goal was to develop and test the effectiveness of a brief online education and support program for female infertility patients.

Methods: A randomized-controlled trial was conducted. Using a Solomon-four group design, 190 female patients were recruited from three US fertility centers and were randomized into two experimental and two no-treatment control groups. The psychological outcomes assessed included infertility distress, infertility self-efficacy, decisional conflict, marital cohesion and coping style. Program dosage and satisfaction were also assessed at four weeks follow-up.

Results: Women exposed to the online program significantly improved in the area of social concerns (P = 0.038) related to infertility distress, and felt more informed about a medical decision with which they were contending (P = 0.037). Trends were observed for decreased global stress(P = 0.10), sexual concerns (P = 0.059), distress related to child-free living (P = 0.063), increased infertility self-efficacy (P = 0.067) and decision making clarity (P = 0.079). A dosage response was observed in the experimental groups for women who spent >60 min online for decreased global stress (P = 0.028) and increased self efficacy (P = 0.024).

Conclusions: This evidence-based eHealth program for women experiencing infertility suggests that a web-based patient education intervention can have beneficial effects in several psychological domains and may be a cost effective resource for fertility practices.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Infertility source web images
Figure 2
Figure 2
CONSORT diagram (Moher et al., 2001)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Solomon-four group design
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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